Temporary Reduction in Laundry Facilities Was Reduction in Services

Tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services based on a reduction in the number of washers and dryers in the laundry room. The DRA ruled for tenants and reduced their rents. The DRA later denied landlord’s application to restore rents. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord claimed that the laundry room facilities had been consolidated and relocated temporarily in the building while landlord constructed a new laundry room with new equipment. Any small reduction in the number of washers and dryers shouldn’t be considered a reduction in services. But the DHCR found that landlord was attempting to attack the original rent reduction order, and couldn’t do so by appealing denial of its rent restoration application. 

HFZ 235 West 75th Street Owner LLC: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. EQ410031RO (8/18/16) [4-pg. doc.]