Q. There has been a leak in my line in my co-op. I have reported the leak, three of my neighbors have also reported leaks. The co-op board has had the super make repairs, and he plasters and paints around the leak. There is a mold smell i…
Yet another new law has recently passed that affects co-op, condo, and HOA boards, as well as residents who lease their units. Almost as if by coincidence, given the historic rains and flooding New Yorkers have endured this season, two la…
Q. I live in a three-flat condo. Before I purchased the second floor, the owner of the third floor opened up the wall to the porch, enclosed the porch, and claimed it as living space. It has since been cited by the city and must come down…
Almost as if by coincidence, given last week’s historic rains and flooding, New York State has recently passed two laws that provide some answers for homeowners and renters affected by the intense weather event. The first, Section 231-B of …
Q. Our Association is self-managed with 12 units. An owner installed a dishwasher without any written request or approval from the board. The board told her that we believed this was a violation, since all 12 units share one water tank an…
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…
Q. My co-op recently approved my alteration agreement but is requiring an independent plumber to oversee the work of my contractor’s licensed (and bonded) plumber, and at my expense. My contractor has told me that this is quite unusual an…
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. “…
With safety and environmental regulations on the increase, co-op and condo communities in New York City face a growing slate of compliance work that must be completed in a timely manner in order to avoid fines and other costly penalties. Of…
Insurance coverage and the inevitable claims that coverage defends against are a fact of life for multifamily residential communities. In that setting, it’s critical for all parties to understand whose policy covers what, and under what cir…