Q. I am a shareholder of a co-op. The co-op's bylaws state that only shareholders and their immediate family members can live in this co-op, but the board permits my live-in boyfriend, who is not a shareholder and who has some mental issu…

For many people, appraisals – why they're done, how they’re done, and how they’re used – is a mystery. But that need not be the case! For all intents and purposes, appraisals are a straightforward and simple component in the process of comp…

Condo, co-op and HOA communities are made up of people – and people aren’t perfect. Within a community association, squabbles are inevitably going to break out between unit owners. Oftentimes these problems will be resolved relatively easil…

While a board and management take on the lion's share of responsibility for maintaining a building or community association, it certainly helps to have some extra hands on deck to keep track of smaller details. While by no means mandatory, …

The invention and adaptation of vertical transportation – otherwise known as the elevator – in the 1850s changed the face of architecture, space design, and apartment living forever. Unfortunately, like any mechanical system, every so often…

A condo is only as strong as its metaphorical foundation – the people who live there, in other words  – and their dedication to building a vibrant, functional community. But the literal, physical components that comprise the structure are v…

Whether you live in a high-rise building or a spread-out condo association, you probably take having reliable, adequate heat in the winter months for granted. But heating a multifamily community is not so easy as simply turning a dial. Ther…

Real estate lore has its share of stories about merciless, if not downright unscrupulous, city inspectors popping in on unaware building owners, conducting unscheduled examinations of all types, and sometimes even demanding payoffs in excha…

Rodents, insects, and pests in general are not a pleasant topic of conversation - but whether you live in a brand-new high rise or a prewar walk-up, whether you're a fastidious home-keeper or a little more lax in the cleaning department, cr…

Things got somewhat contentious at City Hall earlier this week over proposed legislation that would impact both the city’s commercial tenants and landlords , amid the ongoing trend of small and beloved neighborhood businesses closing dow…