New York City already had the largest, most extensive, most specific list of protected groups in the nation when it comes to housing discrimination. With the New York State Legislature’s passage of the Fair Chance Housing Act earlier this y…
Q. How can a shareholder be protected from a board’s abuse of authority when implementing excessive fines on the community of shareholders? Some of the fines being imposed by the board are not defined in our bylaws or house rules. On occ…
While occasional annoyances and interpersonal friction are simply part of the cost of communal living, some behaviors cross the line from minor nuisance into legitimate harassment. Knowing the difference is important—but it can be tricky to…
Co-ops evolved as a housing form in New York City primarily on the basis of exclusivity. Not long after workers’ unions and other professional and mutual interest groups made moves to establish cooperative housing expressly for their member…
Once again, a push to pass legislation requiring co-op boards to disclose their reasons for rejecting would-be shareholders is afoot in the New York State Senate. The bill is sponsored by housing committee chairman Brian Kavanagh, a Democra…
On Monday, New Yorkers were stunned to see a brutal anti-Asian hate crime captured on a security camera in front of a residential building at 360 West 43rd Street near Times Square. Outrage was compounded by video footage of the building …
Whether you live in a super-luxe Park Avenue co-op in New York City, a beachfront condo in Florida, a sprawling HOA in Nevada, or a multifamily community in the Berkshires, one thing is certain: you have neighbors. Hopefully they’re the peo…
On Friday, July 24, New York State passed S6874A/A8903-A, a bill granting the NY Department of State greater authority to punish real estate licensees for violating the state’s Human Rights Law. According to the text of the bill, “The…
Whether as a member of a cooperative or a condominium association, a shareholder or unit owner maintains certain rights within their chosen community. However, achieving harmony among neighbors isn’t always easy. Rights aside, residents are…
In the world of housing, discrimination is a very sensitive subject. A failure to understand it and abide by the laws could result in a lot of trouble, including for boards and owners at condos and co-ops. Avoiding such missteps involving…