Rent Hike Granted for Backflow Preventer and Booster Pump

The DRA granted landlord's MCI rent increase application based on installation of a backflow preventer with related booster pump. Tenant appealed and lost. Tenant claimed that the items didn't qualify as MCIs, that the installations were new and didn't replace an item whose useful life had expired, that the work was done in a piecemeal manner, and that the DHCR's change of policy on backflow preventers didn't follow proper procedure. The DHCR noted that none of tenant's claims were made before the DRA and therefore couldn't be considered on appeal.

Fisher: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. ES430065RT (12/20/17) [1-pg. doc.]