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…

On the long list of building-related issues that multifamily boards and residents have to be concerned about, dryer lint is not likely uppermost. A leaky roof? Definitely. A boiler on the fritz in mid-January? Absolutely. But dryer lint, no…

Your common areas - including the lobby, hallways, mail room, and other shared spaces - are the first impression visitors and residents alike get upon entering the property. If those areas are shabby, poorly maintained, or just plain dated,…

What rights do individual owners have to inspect their association’s books? What rights do boards have to limit owner review? When can a board restrict what an owner discloses to other owners, or what board members disclose to owners? This …

Complying with Local Law 97 (LL97) has many New York multifamily boards and managers stressed - the expense of reducing carbon emissions to acceptable levels (and avoiding steep fines for noncompliance) is daunting, and in many cases prohib…

A predictable, consistent inflow of cash is crucial for all multifamily communities to function - so unpaid maintenance and common charges pose a big problem for boards and residents alike. Arrears can lead to unpaid bills, neglected mainte…

Solar power is gaining traction in multifamily communities nationwide - but concerns about funding, installation, and ROI still have some boards hesitant. This informative discussion will explain how solar works, break down its costs, explo…