Landlord Gets Rent Hike for Installation of French Doors

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a rent overcharge. Tenant disputed landlord's claim that it had performed individual apartment improvements costing $35,000 before tenant moved in. The DRA ruled for tenant and disallowed $19,000 of landlord's claimed costs. Landlord was ordered to refund $30,000 to tenant, including triple damages for willful overcharge. Landlord appealed and won in part. Tenant had stated that landlord didn't install french doors in the apartment, so the DRA should've disallowed any cost for that item. But DHCR inspection showed that landlord had installed kitchen cabinets that were designed to look like french doors. These doors had rectangular panes of glass set into a wooden framework. The DHCR added the $8,000 cost of this item back to the approved IAI costs and thereby reduced the overcharge total.

Washington 921 Limited Partnership: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. YA210016RO ( 9/20/12) [11-pg. doc.]