Officials at the Chetrit Group, a private family-owned company, declined to comment on the tenant complaints.

The inspection could result from a tenant complaint of peeling paint or a routine building inspection for other purposes.

Mark Bunim, a lawyer who represents the owners, said they had responded to tenant complaints about leaks.

It also now has a 20-person group that does nothing but handle tenant complaints and requests.

"You're here with a tenant complaint."

But union officials say their position is strengthening as building supervisors grow weary of doing strikers' jobs and tenant complaints mount about the accumulated clutter.

Multiple tenant complaints should be responded to as indications of possible buildingwide problems.

At the same time, responding to widespread tenant complaints, the board postponed the rules change and announced plans to revisit the issue in a few weeks.

He wants to speed the dismally slow processing of tenant complaints and owner applications for capital improvement allowances.

The Office of Rent Administration has a staff of 542 - 124 of whom process tenant complaints.