Benjamin Franklin famously said, “Nothing in this world is certain except death and taxes.” In the world of co-ops and condos, this truth is amplified. Along with the obvious impact on the deceased’s family and associates, the passing can a…

Q. I am a shareholder in a Mitchell-Lama cooperative. If I have concerns about the results of the board of directors’ election, how can I get an independent person to recount the votes and confirm the tally? Management and the Board of Di…

Q. A co-op owner purchased her unit in 2005 and has been subleasing it to the same tenant since 2011. The co-op board recently passed an amendment to the bylaws that states that an owner cannot sublease a unit for more than two years, and…

After the devastating gas explosion in Harlem in 2014 that leveled a building, leaving eight people dead, and a second explosion in the East Village in 2015 that killed two and injured twenty, New York City passed Local Law 157. While LL 15…

Multifamily buildings – both new and existing – face barriers to decarbonization amid competing demands and growing pressure from legislation, residents, and tenants. But there are opportunities to build value today, namely energy efficienc…

At the heart of volunteerism is the notion of doing something for the common good. For many, choosing to live in a co-op or condo community is also choosing to volunteer for board service, helping to guide and govern the community they call…

Over the past few years, operating expenses for everything from fuel to labor to the cost of cleaning supplies have been steadily rising—and disrupting co-op and condo association budgets - all over the country. The premiums for properly in…

As the climate crisis accelerates, numerous, diverse technologies are being designed to battle the effects of heavily polluting, carbon-based energy sources like oil and gas. Many of these innovations are coming out of the heating, ventilat…

As evidenced by the recent - and likely ongoing - flap over congestion pricing, car usage, ownership, and the financial implications of both are major issues for New Yorkers. Owning a car in the city is an undertaking in itself, and for mos…

Way back in 1966, New York State established the Housing Development Finance Corporation (HDFC) as part of its efforts to provide affordable housing to residents of the state. The program has been very successful, providing over 100,000 aff…