Storage Space

Tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services. They claimed that landlord had removed parking spaces and basement storage space. Landlord claimed that tenants' initial leases didn't provide for these services. The DRA ruled for tenants. Landlord appealed, claiming that it could charge for parking and that removal of the storage space was a minor condition that didn't warrant a rent reduction. The DHCR ruled against landlord. Tenants had been using parking spaces and basement storage space since they moved in and were not separately charged. Even if these services weren't listed in the initial apartment registration forms, they were required services. Prior landlord provided individual storage closets numbered to correspond to tenants' apartment numbers four years before tenants complained. Under the Rent Protection Regulations, the condition couldn't be deemed minor.

Zito: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. RB710045RO (5/9/03) [3-pg. doc.]