Increase Suspended Due to Outstanding Fire Code Violation

Landlord applied for MCI rent hikes for various improvements. The DRA approved landlord's application, based on landlord's installation of a new boiler/burner, water tank, house pumps, intercom system, elevator upgrading, roof, and replacement windows. Tenants appealed, claiming that there were outstanding fire and building code violations at the building. An inspection of fire department records showed that landlord didn't install a sprinkler system in the high-rise building, and that this violation had been outstanding for over ten years. The DHCR suspended the MCI rent increases. This was an immediately hazardous condition; DHCR policy bars any MCI increase until such a condition is corrected. Landlord can collect the increase prospectively only once this is done.

255 West 88th Street: DHCR Adm. Rev. Dckt. Nos. DI 410182-RT, DJ 410195-RT, DJ 430018-RT, DK 410096-RT, DK 410234-RT, DK 420095-RT (7/16/93) [5-page document]