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CENTURY-OLD ELEVATOR MUST BE REPLACED, DESPITE THE COST AND DESPITE THE APPARENT FACT THAT ONLY ONE OF FOUR TENANTS USED THE ELEVATOR (FIRST DEPT).

The First Department, reversing Supreme Court, in a full-fledged opinion by Justice Tom, determined the ruling by the NYS Department of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR) ruling requiring the landlord to provide elevator service was not irrational and must be upheld. The century-old elevator needed replacement at a cost of $150,000. Apparently the building has four tenants, and only one used the elevator. The opinion is comprehensive and cannot be fairly summarized here:

DHCR in its 2017 determination interpreted its own regulations to require that if elevator service was required under the Loft Law, it was also required under the Rent Stabilization Code upon the transition of the building to rent stabilization. This interpretation by DHCR of its own regulations should be upheld to the extent it is rational and not an arbitrary and capricious reliance on the facts of the case … . Certain facts are unclear regarding if and when the elevator broke down, or when the landlord acted on a decision to terminate operations. However … that would seem not to matter under these circumstances. Since elevator service had been provided while the building was regulated as an interim multiple dwelling, that service had to be continued without regard to the economic ramifications. In this sense, the cost to the landlord is not a factor that would displace the regulatory requirements and would not support setting aside the DHCR determination. * * *

… [W]e cannot conclude that DHCR was arbitrary and capricious in its evaluation of the relevant facts or irrational in concluding that in whatever manner elevator service was terminated, that action in the absence of DHCR’s approval was inconsistent with rent stabilization, and that elevator service, as a required service, had to be restored. Matter of Leonard St. Props. Group, Ltd. v New York State Div. of Hous. & Community Renewal, 2019 NY Slip Op 08165, First Dept 11-12-19

 

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