Tenants Who Didn't Sign PAR Can't Get Rent Cut

(Decision submitted by Jack Kuttner of the Manhattan law firm of Kucker Kraus & Bruh, LLP, attorneys for the landlord.) Tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services. The DRA ruled against tenants, and tenants appealed. The DHCR reopened the case in response to tenants' PAR, and the DRA later ruled for tenants based on a finding that doorman services weren't being provided. Landlord appealed, claiming that only tenants who signed the PAR could get rent cuts. The DHCR ruled for landlord. Only those rent-stabilized tenants who had signed the PAR or authorized tenant representative in writing to file for them could get a rent cut. And only rent-controlled tenants who actually signed a PAR could get a rent cut. In this case, the only tenant who signed was tenant representative who filed the PAR. That tenant didn't prove she had written authorization from any other tenants to file the complaint on their behalf. So she was the only tenant that could get a rent cut.

Residential Mgmt.: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. No. JG630003RP (1/29/97) [5-page document]