Q I've heard a lot about the STAR abatement and other tax breaks for apartment owners, but I'm confused as to who gets what, and how those refunds are distributed among residents in multifamily buildings. Could you please clarify the most…
Q Who owns the handicapped parking spaces set aside in the parking facility of a newly constructed condominium? —Keeping it Accessible in Kings County A “Sponsors of newly constructed condominiums are responsible for creating th…
It only takes a few minutes of a web search to uncover the traits that make a successful person or business owner. For example, Entrepreneur magazine’s Steven Key wrote the article, “5 Qualities of Successful Persons,” which included such …
Nothing lasts forever, and though you can’t predict the moment a piece of building equipment will break down, you can prepare for it. Even the toughest boiler, HVAC unit, or elevator will eventually tucker out and need major repairs, or ju…
Q I have lived in my cooperative apt for the past 13 years and have never been late with my carrying charges. In those years, the only repairs that the cooperative has made in my apartment have been emergency repairs (there was a broken…
One of our clients recently asked us to investigate the accuracy of their building’s square footage as listed on New York City’s Notice of Property Value. In order to contest the gross building area of a parcel, the city requires an eng…
One of the trickier problems to deal with when you live in a co-op or condo is dealing with board members who sometimes let the power go to their heads. Even though they are entrusted with a great deal of responsibility in the smooth r…
Birds in flight may be beautiful, but their departure sometimes leaves the nest unprotected. And when that nest is in a condominium or cooperative community, property managers and boards must do their best to compensate. This …
Co-op and condo boards are made up of resident volunteers who want to serve their building communities and have a hand in its governance. While some board members actually make their living as attorneys and have a working knowledge of …
Since its launch in 1987, The Cooperator's annual Co-op & Condo Expo has become a fixture on the business calendar of vendors, service providers, board members, building staff members and residents all over the tri-state area. Each year…