One of the most difficult decisions boards of co-ops and condos have to make is who should manage their buildings. While boards are obviously looking for management that has both the qualifications and experience to handle a building such…
A co-op or condo that embarks upon the road to self-management is committed to undertaking the supervision and administration of the building without the assistance of an outside full-service property management firm. There are, however, va…
While there has been a lot of talk in the industry recently about energy conservation, it would seem that most board members and residents are not sure where to begin or how they should proceed. The Cooperator has uncovered several new pr…
It comes roaring down from the Catskill Mountains, from the pristine hills of Delaware County and from the open spaces of Westchester. As it barrels its way through enormous tunnels over 100 miles long, into a maze of pipelines a century …
One of life's most basic necessities is to have a roof over one's head. In an apartment building,while the roof may be a dozen stories above your home, it is still one of the most fundamental parts of the building. If the roof is not proper…
Local Law 10 of 1980 was enacted shortly after a piece of terra cotta masonry fell from the facade of an Upper West Side building and killed a passing college student. The New York City Council, in an effort to minimize the chances of …
It is well established that individuals in New York City spend 80 to 90 percent of their time indoors, either at the work place or at home. It has also been established that the indoor air quality may be as poor as the outdoor air. The he…
Now board members and management have another reason to sit up and take notice when issues of tenant security are raised. It can be summed up in one word: Liability. In a growing number of jurisdictions, property owners are being held lia…
Co-op, condo and HOA (Home Owners Associa-tion) managing agents share common goals with the boards they serve: To improve both the quality of life and the bottom line of the properties they manage. To help achieve these goals, many manag…
If winter's here, can spring be far behind? This old adage is particularly meaningful in relation to the annual ritual which takes place among cooperative housing corporations each spring: The Annual Shareholders Meeting. Even though the gr…