Fire Escape Conditions Not Minor

Tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services based on the condition of the building's fire escapes. The DRA ruled for tenants and reduced their rents. The DRA found that the fire escapes needed scraping and painting. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord claimed that this was a minor condition not warranting any rent reduction. But this wasn't a minor, isolated part of the building that merely needed painting. Inspection showed that all four fire escapes needed scraping and painting. This demonstrated that the fire escapes weren't being adequately maintained, and the DRA properly reduced tenants' rents.

118-80 Metropolitan Avenue: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. YD110065RO (9/29/10) [2-pg. doc.]