Landlord Converted to Individual Gas Heat and Hot Water Units

Landlord asked the DHCR for permission to decrease or modify services by converting from a central heating system to individual gas heat and hot water units in each apartment and adjusting tenant's rents. The DRA ruled against landlord. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord went ahead and did the conversion before asking the DHCR for permission to do so. Several tenants complained about the units and the resulting gas bills. Heat and hot water are fundamental services that landlord is required to continue, and they can't be excluded from tenant's rents.

Yaw Bros. Realty Co.: DHCR Admin. Rev. Dckt. No. PH430061RO (11/13/01) [2-pg. doc.]