Rent Reduced Due to Fire Department Vacate Order

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a reduction in services. Tenant was forced to move out of his apartment because the Fire Department had issued a vacate order. Landlord argued that the dangerous conditions found by the Fire Department were caused by tenant's own illegal construction work. The DRA ruled for tenant and reduced his rent to $1 per month. Landlord appealed and lost. Neither landlord nor tenant submitted proof concerning what caused the apartment conditions. While the Fire Department order remained in place and the apartment was uninhabitable, tenant's rent would remain $1 per month.

521 Properties Corp.: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. VL410046RO (3/20/08) [2-pg. doc.]