Q. My co-op board just voted to require all shareholders to buy homeowners insurance. I'd like to find out if that's a common thing, but I don't know who to ask. Thanks! —Is This Right? A. “R…
A proposed agreement drafted by New York City’s Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) department has caused Mayor Bill de Blasio some grief recently, as regulatory measures affecting buildings in the Housing Development Fund Corporatio…
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…
Regardless of one's political affiliation or viewpoints, fact is that the election of Donald Trump to the office of President has inspired what those in the media refer to as 'takes,' from all sides of the political and philosophical spectr…
George Orwell’s dystopian novel 1984 was all about how Big Brother was watching us. It isn’t hard to imagine what Orwell would think about today’s technologically-advanced world, where there are full-body scans at the airports, photos snapp…
Q. In the 23 years that I have been a resident shareholder, the building has used my terrace cumulatively for facade work for over five years. In addition to the severe strain on my health, well being and work, these scaffolding installat…
One important attribute of any condominium or cooperative board is that it manifests the best interests of its owner or shareholder base. This requires a certain attentiveness, as the wants and needs of residents are likely to change over t…
No one likes a lawsuit. Whether filing one or finding yourself on the receiving end of one, they can cause stress, anxiety and an upending of daily life. They can be expensive, take months—even years—to resolve, and often result in hurt fee…
As with a first date or job interview, sitting before a cooperative board to plead your case for buying into its community is a daunting prospect. Though the pressure may be high, board interviews tend to be pretty straightforward. But what…
One of the benefits of transitioning from renter to homeowner is the knowledge that your space is sacred and belongs only to you. But, when it comes to association living, sometimes unit owners have to give building staff or managers access…