New York, NY asked in Real Estate Law and Landlord - Tenant for New York

Q: Landlord Installed the Wrong Sink/Faucet and Won't Fix It

We live in a rent stabilized NYC apt. Our bathroom sink had cracks that finally caved in leaving a hole.

After 6 years with a dedicated super, the landlord decides they'll only have a part-time Porter for cleaning & a tech/repair person only on a contract basis. So management orders the new sink with no knowledge of what's needed. When the contract tech arrives he can't install it because it's the wrong sink (with 1 hole instead of 3 so he can run the water lines to the original faucet). Instead of ordering the correct sink, the landlord orders a different faucet.

The tech returns & says right away that the faucet is TOO LARGE. It's as tall as the faucet in our kitchen; when you bend over the basin to wash your face your head hits the lever; that's how out of proportion it is to the bathroom sink. It renders the sink unusable.

The landlord says "Too bad, you have a working sink, we're closing the work order." Isn't this a case of diminished services?

1 Lawyer Answer
Elaine Shay
PREMIUM
Elaine Shay
Answered
  • Landlord Tenant Lawyer
  • New York, NY
  • Licensed in New York

A: If you have conditions in your apartment that you believe would constitute a violation, you can start an HP Proceeding in Housing Court. An inspector will be sent to your apartment and issue a report of any violations that are determined to exist and the landlord will be required to fix the conditions.

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