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Posted by Lilly Thall on January 10, 1999 at 16:49:25:

In Reply to: Re: phone installation? posted by Kiri on January 08, 1999 at 16:19:24:

: : Hi!
: : I have a specific question and was wondering if you could help me out. I recently moved into a newly renovated apartment in November. During the renovation, the builders took out the phone wire and jack. So, when I moved in, I had to get a new one installed. This is a permanent feature for the apartment. It seems to me that the Management Company should pay for this installation, no? If I move out next year, the new tenant will not have to pay $180 for a new phone jack because it will already be installed.
: : I was just wondering if I am right in my assumptions and if I can legally get the Management Co to pay for this.

: The same thing happened to me. They took out the phone jack. Here's what you can do: talk to your super. Most supers know how to install phone jacks--you can buy one for a few bucks and maybe offer him $20 to do it. What I did was have my boyfriend call the landlord and yell at him, insisting that we have the phone jack installed. A man's voice will work wonders! The landlord called the super soon thereafter and he installed it. It seems that you already had the phone company install it--simply withhold it from your rent. Send a nice note explaining that you had a jack installed for all future residents. If the landlord balks, tear out the jack when you leave!

I don't know if this would hold up, but if a tenant is stabilized, the LL is required to provide the same service as on the base date, i.e., access to telephone service... if you can show the previous tenant had a phone jack present. The original need not have been installed by the LL. If it's a service that goes with the apartment, you're entitled to the service or a rent reduction. But in this case, you've restored the service yourself. I would negotiate with the owner or withhold rent.

Follow Ups:

• Re: phone installation? John E. Marre 1/14/99 (2)
  • Re: phone installation? TenantNet 1/16/99 (1)
    • Re: phone installation? John E. Marre 1/16/99 (0)

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: : : Hi!
: : : I have a specific question and was wondering if you could help me out.  I recently moved into a newly renovated apartment in November. During the renovation, the builders took out the phone wire and jack. So, when I moved in, I had to get a new one installed. This is a permanent feature for the apartment. It seems to me that the Management Company should pay for this installation, no? If I move out next year, the new tenant will not have to pay $180 for a new phone jack because it will already be installed. 
: : : I was just wondering if I am right in my assumptions and if I can legally get the Management Co to pay for this.

: : The same thing happened to me. They took out the phone jack. Here's what you can do: talk to your super. Most supers know how to install phone jacks--you can buy one for a few bucks and maybe offer him $20 to do it. What I did was have my boyfriend call the landlord and yell at him, insisting that we have the phone jack installed. A man's voice will work wonders! The landlord called the super soon thereafter and he installed it. It seems that you already had the phone company install it--simply withhold it from your rent. Send a nice note explaining that you had a jack installed for all future residents. If the landlord balks, tear out the jack when you leave!

: I don't know if this would hold up, but if a tenant is stabilized, the LL is required to provide the same service as on the base date, i.e., access to telephone service... if you can show the previous tenant had a phone jack present. The original need not have been installed by the LL. If it's a service that goes with the apartment, you're entitled to the service or a rent reduction. But in this case, you've restored the service yourself. I would negotiate with the owner or withhold rent.


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