Storage Space Eliminated

Rent-controlled tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services. The DRA ruled for tenants and reduced their rents based on several conditions, including landlord's removal of storage areas and a clothesline previously provided to tenants. Landlord appealed and won. While landlord's PAR was pending, the DHCR issued a list of ``de minimis'' conditions that didn't warrant rent reductions. This list included elimination of clotheslines, and elimination of storage space, unless the lease allows storage space, or landlord provided storage boxes or bins within three years of the filing of the complaint. Here, there was no lease clause regarding storage space, and landlord eliminated the storage space five years before tenants complained. The DHCR reduced tenants' monthly rent reductions from $6 to $2.

Westmoreland Assocs.: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. JC110008RO (8/13/97) [2-page document]