pages: RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2019-02-04.pdf, 8
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RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee | 2019-02-04 | 8 | Approved Minutes February 4, 2019 Ms. Mizrachi said that their attorney counseled them to not agree to voluntary mediation. Mr. Velazquez added that the reason they did not agree to mediation was in order to treat all tenants fairly and equally. He explained that if they mediated with one tenant they would have to agree to mediate with all tenants. Chair Murray asked the landlords how they determined what rate to charge for a given unit, and Ms. Rodriguez explained that they looked at comparable units in the area to see what they were charging to make the determination. Member Sullivan-Cheah asked the tenants if they knew about the online portal for filing maintenance requests. Ms. Ramos said she did not receive any notification that the online system existed and said she did not get many emails that the landlords claim to have sent. Mr. Velazquez asked the tenants to verify that management had their correct email address on file. Ms. Rodriguez said she found it suspicious that the tenants brought up maintenance concerns only after the management requested a rent increase. Chair Murray replied that what the Committee has often heard from tenants is that they can be afraid to ask their landlords for repairs and maintenance because they fear it may trigger a rent increase. She explained that was a possible reason why these issues may not come up until the landlord requests a rent increase. Vice Chair Sullivan-Cheah confirmed with the landlords that they were not committing to making repairs but were intending to look into the issues raised by the tenants during the hearing, and Ms. Mizrachi said that was her intention. The participants took their seats and the Committee began deliberations. Vice Chair Sullivan-Cheah voiced concern that the owner did not seem to know about the maintenance issues going on at the property, and did not feel that the matter of treating tenants equally was a concern that carried much weight with the issues raised by the tenants. Member Chiu expressed concern that the management did not seem to be adequately hearing the concerns of the tenants. Motion and second for a $0.00 increase from January through December 2019 (Vice Chair Sullivan-Cheah and Member Chiu). Motion passed 3-0. 7-D. Case 1201 - 1506 Lincoln Ave., Apt. A No Committee review. The Committee did not have time to call this case. It will be continued to a meeting on March 4, 2019. | RentReviewAdvisoryCommittee/2019-02-04.pdf |