If you’re a co-op, condo or HOA board member or manager, you have to deal with vendors and service providers constantly; it’s a routine part of the day-to-day running of any building or association. There are always inspections to be done, …
For residents on fixed incomes, or those who are already struggling to make ends meet because of a job loss, illness or divorce, any hit to their already-stretched-to-the-max budget can be devastating. So when a board levels an assessment o…
Back in the late ‘80s, pop stars Milli Vanilli once had a hit song called “Blame It on the Rain.” And while ‘it’ for the singing duo was about heartache and lost love, the rain can bring a very different kind of pain to the board and resid…
If you live in a big city, more than likely you’ll eventually cross paths with urban vermin. Rats, mice, cockroaches—these unsavory annoyances have been icking humans out ever since large groups of people began congregating and putting down…
No matter what time of year, the addition of natural light into a living space can do more to boost the spirits of its occupants than just about anything else. For a dark kitchen, a gloomy study or a bedroom that lacks that special somethin…
Thanks to several popular cable TV shows, an economy-driven emphasis on downsizing and minimalism, and a politically-driven discussion of the effects of untreated mental health conditions on the greater community, the issue of pathological …
Q. We had some gutter and minor roof repairs scheduled.The budget is tight for some other reasons and the president stated that her husband was qualified and would do the work for free. He is not licensed or insured and will be working on…
Q. I purchased my condo unit in 2005 with amenities, including 24-hour security, two pools, a parking lot, and a children’s playground. This past summer, our board destroyed the children’s playground and made their additional parking spac…
Q. Can an association change the owner’s right to rent out his condo? —Tenant Who Needs a Briefing A. “Typically, a condominium board has a right of first refusal on a sale or lease of a condominium unit,” says attorney…
Q. I was recently made aware that a sex offender moved into my building. He moved into his girlfriend’s apartment. I made the board aware of this—even gave them a printout from criminal justice. We have a lot of children living in our com…