Tenants Get Up to Four Additional Key Fobs with Intercom Service Substitution

Landlord asked the DHCR for permission to modify building services by substituting a traditional hard-wired intercom system with a telephone-based intercom system, and by substituting a traditional key lock system with an electronic key fob system to gain entrance to the building. The DRA ruled for landlord, provided that a number of conditions be met.

Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord objected to some of the conditions imposed for approval of the service modification. It's DHCR policy that all affected tenants receive up to four additional key fobs or keycards at no charge for the use of either tenant's employees subject to an electronically expiring card that can be renewed at tenant's option, or of tenant's guests, defined as family members or friends who can be expected to visit on a regular basis or as needed to care for tenant or the apartment. Beyond that, landlord can exercise reasonable guidelines aimed at limiting key fob access to any third parties who don't fall into these categories. Landlord also objected to the $15 permanent rent reduction imposed. But it's DHCR's policy that, with a changeover to a telephone-based system, all apartments must have a touch-tone landline phone and that the rent reduction applies. If landlord wants to install wireless fixed hardware intercom units, to potentially eliminate the costs associated with maintenance of landline phones, it must submit a new service modification application, subject to DHCR approval.

Akelius Real Estate Management, LLC: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. FR210002RO (7/20/18) [3-pg. doc.]