New York State  
Division of Housing and Community Renewal  
Office of Rent Administration  
Gertz Plaza, 92-31 Union Hall St.  
Jamaica, New York 11433  
Public Information: (718)739-6400  
 
 
POLICY STATEMENT (91-2)  
(REVISED 90-6)  
 
MCI ELIGIBILITY - ROOFING  
 
This Policy Statement is being issued to define the eligibility  
of roofing installations for consideration as Major Capital  
Improvements (MCIs) in buildings regulated by the Rent  
Stabilization Law, the Emergency Tenant Protection Act and Rent  
Control.  
 
The useful life and cost of a roofing installation is related to  
the number of plies (each ply being a waterproof layer of roofing  
material and a bonding agent).  The least expensive roofing  
choice available is the single ply (often referred to as a 2- 
course application) 'Roof Cap". It is generally applied over an  
existing roof and consists of one layer of traditional asphalt  
based materials with a protective surface coating of crushed  
minerals. Commercially available products (such as 55# and 90#  
mineral paper top sheets) which already include the surface  
coating are generally used for their cost effectiveness in this  
application.  Since the benefit from this type of single-ply  
"roof cap" is short-lived and is generally applied over an  
existing roof, it is considered a repair and does not constitute  
a Major Capital Improvement.  
 
Therefore, roofing installations consisting of only a single ply  
of traditional asphalt based materials (a top sheet) will not be  
eligible for a Major Capital Improvement increase.  
 
The only exception to this prohibition on MCI eligibility for  
single ply installations will be for new technology materials  
that are proven to have acceptable useful lives as recognized in  
this agency's Operational Bulletin #90-2, Useful Life Schedule  
for Major Capital Improvements".  A one-ply rubber (membrane)  
roof using EPDM materials is acceptable, as is as an application  
using Modified Bitumin materials.  These types of roofing,  
developed with new technologies, have a life expectancy beyond  
conventional asphalt-based materials and will qualify for an MCI  
rent increase.  
 
Complete roof removals and replacements with multi-ply roof caps  
consisting of the aforementioned single ply of asphalt material  
plus additional underlying plies of roofing material are and will  
continue to be eligible.  Note that each additional ply adds to  
the overall strength and longevity of the installation.  
The bills, work orders and plans used as documentation of the  
eligible MCI costs for roofing must provide a description which  
specifies the materials (asphalt, EPDM) and application type  
(one-ply, three-ply, torch applied, etc.) used in order to be  
acceptable.  
 
The policy on roofing shall become effective 30 days after the  
issue date of this statement.  

 
February 20, 1991  

Elliot G. Sander  
Deputy Commissioner  
 
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DHCR Policy Statements are **promulgated** (i.e., officially 
issued) by the New York State Division of Housing and Community 
Renewal (DHCR) and represent **official** policy of the agency. 

The agency is generally obligated to follow the policy contained 
in these and other documents or provide a rational for deviation; 
failure to follow the law, policy or practice may form the basis 
for an appeal. Electronic versions of the documents on TenantNet 
are for informational purposes only and there is no guarantee 
they will be accepted by any court (or even DHCR) as true copies 
of DHCR policy. The reader is advised to obtain true copies of 
these documents from DHCR. Also see DHCR Advisory Opinions, 
DHCR Operational Bulletins, the Rent Stabilization Code, the Rent 
Stabilization Law and various Rent Control Statutes.

Every attempt has been made to conform to the original Policy
Statements as issued by DHCR; TenantNet makes no
representation the enclosed material is current or will be
applied as written.  The reader is advised that DHCR often fails
to properly apply, interpret or enforce housing laws.  Since
housing laws are complex and often contradictory, it is
recommended the reader obtain competent legal advice from a
tenant attorney or counseling from a tenant association or
community group. (rev. 3/13/96) DHCR documents
are public documents; the electronic version of such documents
have been developed by TenantNet and any added value, enhancements
and/or proprietary features are copyright 1994, 1995 and 1996 by
TenantNet. These documents may be freely distributed provided they
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informational banner referencing TenantNet as the original provider.
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For more information or assistance. call the DHCR Rent Infoline 
at (718) 739-6400, or visit your Borough Rent Office.

Queens Central Office
92-31 Union Hall St. 4th Fl.
Jamaica, NY 11433
(718) 739-6400

Bronx
One Fordham Plaza
Bronx, NY 10458
(718) 563-5678

Brooklyn
250 Schermerhorn St.
3rd Floor
Brooklyn, NY 11201
(718) 780-9246

Lower Manhattan
156 William Street
9th Floor
NY, NY 10038
(212) 240-6011, 6012
South side of 110th St. and below

Upper Manhattan
163 W. 125th St.
5th Floor
NY, NY 10027
(212) 961-8930
North side of 110th St. and above

Staten Island
350 St. Mark's Place
Room 105
Staten island, NY 10301
(718) 816-0277

Nassau County District Rent Office
50 Clinton Street, 6th Floor
Hempstead, NY 11550
(516) 481-9494

Westchester County District Rent Office
55 Church Street, 3rd Floor
White Plains, NY 10601
(914) 948-4434

Rockland County District Rent Office
94-96 North Main St.
Spring Valley, NY 10977
(914) 425-6575

Albany Regional Office
119 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 432-0596

Buffalo Regional Office
Ellicot Square Building
295 Main St., Room 438
Buffalo, NY 14203
(716) 856-1382
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