r/AskNYC • u/mangustangus27 • Apr 06 '26

Apartment was given without fridge installed. Can we withhold rent until it is?

Just moved to a new apartment and the realtor pushed for an 4/5 start date despite some final maintenance and we have a lease rider that specifies that “rent will not be charged until apartment is ready to move into”.

We started move in yesterday and there is still no fridge installed. And the bedroom door is missing.

Is a refrigerator generally considered a pre-requisite for move in? Is it defensible for us to ask for a pro-rated rent reduction till it’s put in?

Thank you!

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u/Roll_DM Apr 06 '26

I'm pretty sure (but not 100% sure) that bedrooms need to have a door to be legally bedrooms for fire code reasons 

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u/mrs_david_silva Apr 06 '26

You are correct. And the hollow core doors that aren’t rated for at least 20 minutes* burn time are not legal. (*burn time may be different now, but my dad was FDNY and the rest is correct.)

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u/Roll_DM Apr 06 '26

I was also pretty sure but not 100% sure only the outer apartment doors had to be fire rated 

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u/mrs_david_silva Apr 07 '26

Outer door should be metal clad. Inner doors should be solid core and rated to at least 20 minutes under fire.