Rent Reduction Ordered Based on Defective Intercom

Rent-stabilized tenant complained of a decrease in services to the apartment. Tenant claimed that the intercom system wasn't functioning properly. The DRA ruled for tenant and reduced his rent. Landlord appealed and lost. Landlord argued that there was interruption in tenant's ability to communicate with the front desk since landlord had installed an auto dialer system in the building that functioned like an intercom system. This system connected to tenant's phone number directly. All building tenants had use of the auto dialer system, access to the 24-hour doorman via a direct phone line, and the doorman continued to announce visitors through the use of the auto dialer system. But landlord hadn't sought DHCR permission to replace the intercom system and DHCR inspection confirmed that tenant's intercom wasn't working. 

CF E 86 LLC, SME E 86 LLC, LSG E 86 LLC/CSFM E 86 Manager LLC: DHCR Adm. Rev. Docket No. GP410010RO (1/24/19) [3-pg. doc.]