Landlord Maintained Updated Master TV Antenna

Tenants complained of a reduction in building-wide services concerning laundry room washers and dryers, elevator service, elevator doors, garage/drain covers, the intercom/buzzer system, elevator leveling conditions, and the building's master antenna. The DRA ruled for tenants in part and reduced their rents based on elevator leveling conditions and a defective intercom/buzzer system. Tenants appealed, claiming that the master antenna they complained about also wasn't being maintained, that landlord ignored tenants' requests for antenna hook-ups, and that only three out of the seven VHF channels promised in 1967 were working. Landlord also appealed, claiming that the elevator leveling conditions and intercom system were in fact maintained. The DHCR ruled against both landlord and tenants.  DHCR inspection showed that the intercom/buzzer system produced no sound. And the elevator didn't level properly at the time of DHCR inspection, and created a trip hazard. The DHCR's inspector also found that there was a master antenna on the building roof. Eleven apartments inspected had cable TV and weren't connected to the master antenna. One apartment connected to the master antenna had very good reception on 13 channels. In addition, the FCC mandated the switch from analog to digital broadcasting in 2009. It was DHCR policy that landlords could provide an updated master antenna and that tenants would be responsible for purchasing at their own expense analog to digital converter boxes for their televisions.

500 Riverdale Avenue LLC/500 Riverdale Avenue Tenants' Association: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket Nos. ZI930022RO, ZI930026RT (12/5/12) [5-pg. doc.]