A community’s governing documents, including its bylaws and house rules, are like a country’s constitution and laws. They are—or at least they should be—‘living’ documents that like our state and national laws and constitution, occasionally…
At the forefront of reducing carbon emissions nationwide, New York City’s Local Law 97 is prompting co-op and condominium communities to confront and reduce their carbon footprints. More often than not those efforts require costly upgrades …
In a recent decision, a New York City co-op was ordered to pay $165,000 to a shareholder over the board’s refusal to allow her to keep her ‘emotional support parrots’ - a judgment the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York …
Lead paint has remained a critical health hazard in New York City for decades, especially among young children. To combat this, the City has implemented rigorous lead testing and remediation abatement laws, imposing significant penalties fo…
Q. In 1999 I inherited a low-income HDFC co-op, which at that time the president told me I could rent out. When my relative passed away in 1998, I had just bought myself a condominium, so I took the president at his word and rented the co…
Q. I live in a co-op with some unsold shared apartments. This month a woman in a rent stabilized apartment passed away. Will her apartment remain rent stabilized, or can the owner transfer it to market value? …
Q. I signed a contract for a condo unit at the end of November 2023. There was an increase in the maintenance in February 2024, so it’s likely they got notice of this last December. Unfortunately I wasn’t given notice of this $55 increase…
Q. I have lived in a Mitchell-Lama co-op since 1992 and never received a copy of the complete house rules. Recently I was assaulted by a neighbor’s husband on co-op property; he is not a tenant on record, yet lives here and is a very dang…
Cleaning products are designed with a straightforward goal: to reduce dirt and grime. But once you delve deeper into their overall purpose, things become more complex. What makes something really clean? Does it just look shinier? Smell bett…
Homeownership is a long-term commitment for most. In the context of a multifamily community like a condo or co-op, it’s not unusual for many owners and shareholders in the building to have purchased their units around the same time in early…