Jarred I. Kassenoff in New York Times Real Estate Section, A NEW CYCLE FOR APPLIANCES , July 25, 2010

By Jay Romano

Q         I am a rent-stabilized tenant in a sponsor-owned apartment in a Manhattan condominium. I have lived here for 30-plus years and have had a washer and dryer in my unit since the 1980s. Do I have the right to replace the appliances?

A          Jarred I. Kassenoff, a Manhattan real estate lawyer, says it is unclear whether the owner originally gave permission for the appliances, limited permission to the particular machines the tenant had, or gave the tenant blanket permission to have a washer and dryer. In the absence of a written agreement, this is the kind of issue that a judge would need to resolve after a hearing or trial, Mr. Kassenoff said. He noted, however, that as long as the replacements didn't interfere with the building's plumbing, or otherwise damage the structure, it was likely that a New York City housing court judge would find in favor of this tenant.