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…
The presence of commercial space in a shared interest building can be a blessing for the community - and it can also be a burden. It can bring in much needed additional income to help defray the cost of running the building - but at the sam…
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…
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 efficiency an…
Groucho Marx once famously said, “I wouldn’t belong to any club that would have me as a member.” Not so for many in the world of co-ops, condos, and HOAs. Shared communities often (if not usually) have an application process required for p…
This publication spends a lot of time exploring and explaining the duties and purpose of multifamily boards—the benefits and drawbacks of serving on them, and even the difficulty that many buildings and communities have with motivating owne…
For many co-op and condominium buildings in New York, making necessary repairs under the City’s many local laws requires cooperation from neighboring - often physically adjacent - buildings. You may need access to your neighbor’s roof, or a…
As if New York co-op and condo communities weren’t under enough pressure from sluggish sales, high interest rates, and the ever-increasing volume of work required to comply with environmental requirements like Local Law 97, Governor Kathy H…
The governing documents of a cooperative, condominium, or homeowners association spell out the rules, regulations, and administrative policies that all residents and board members alike are obligated to follow as a condition of their reside…
Board approval has been part and parcel of buying into an NYC co-op since the housing model was introduced in the late 1800s. Boards can demand troves of personal information from buyers, and can approve or deny a purchase for just about an…