George E. Pataki
Governor
Dennis P. Ryan
Acting Commissioner
New York State
Division of Housing and Community Renewal
Office of Rent Administration
Gertz Plaza
92-31 Union Hall Street
Jamaica, NY 11433
March 1, 2002
The Emergency Tenant Protection Regulations. Rent Stabilization Code, State Rent and Eviction Regulations and the New York City Rent and Eviction Regulations all have provisions which allow an owner.to seek the removal of a service which is included in the rent.
The Division of Housing and Community Renewal is currently reviewing the regulations dealing with applications to decrease dwelling space or services, specifically with regard to excluding electricity as a service included in the rent and the appropriate decrease in the legal rent for elimination of this service, and conversion to direct metering by a utility and/or conversion to a system of sub-metering, whereby tenants will pay the owner or other provider of the electricity for the cost of their own electrical consumption. These regulatory plans were announced by DHCR in Regulating agenda published in State Register on January 2. 2002.
In the past you have demonstrated an interest in rent related issues. Accordingly. at this time I would like to invite you to submit any recommendations you may have regarding the proposed changes to the relevant regulations that you believe should be considered. Suggestions should be submitted in writing to the Office of Rent Administration, attention Maurice Jamison. Executive Assistant to the Deputy Commissioner by March 29, 2002.
Your participation would be both helpful and appreciated.
Very truly yours.
Paul Roldan
Deputy Commissioner