Coops and condo associations in New York City hire individuals and businesses to perform various services. Some are professional businesses with a service contract to fix and replace HVAC, wash windows or care for the landscape. Others may be individuals doing one-off...
Co-ops and condominiums
Buildings need to address the battery-charging issue
Last year, Lithium-ion batteries in e-bikes were found to be the source of multiple fires, injuries, and deaths throughout New York City. But these batteries are not new, and they can be found in commonly used and necessary items such as cell phones, laptops, tools,...
Can parents leave a co-op to their children?
Parents often find peace of mind by setting aside significant assets like property or homes when making their estate plans. However, the co-op board may have other ideas about whether the heir can move into or stay in the shareholder’s apartment. In many cases, the...
Inflation, interest rates impact NYC co-op and condo sales
After reaching a 32-year high in the fourth quarter of 2021, New York City condos and co-op sales took a drastic drop beginning in late spring, shortly after the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates. The Fed hopes the increases will ease rising inflation and...
Key components for New York cooperative apartment renovations, part 2
This is Part two in a two-part series on New York cooperative apartment renovations. You can read Part 1 here, where we discuss the importance of having a well-formed renovation plan. Continue reading for more information the application process and other components...
Key components for New York cooperative apartment renovations, part 1
Anyone who has been involved in a renovation of an apartment in New York City knows how complicated and possibly contentious this endeavor may be. It is critical to understand the apartment alteration process in order to avoid conflicts and potential lawsuits which...
Good news for Co-ops in 2022
The Housing Stability Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA), enacted by New York State in 2019, was never met with much favor among landlords, including by the boards and management of buildings which are operated as cooperatives. The law was intended primarily to govern...
In the wake of Hurricane Ida, we are reminded of the importance of flood insurance
Two weeks, Hurricane Ida ripped through our country with tremendous force. Hurricane Ida was a serious, deadly storm that killed and displaced many in its path. In fact, by the time the storm reached us, Ida was still taking lives in the Northeast, days after it hit...
How should New York co-ops handle COVID-19 masking and vaccinations?
While so many people were hopeful that mass vaccinations would be the end of Covid restrictions, the increase in cases tied to variants and the ongoing inability to vaccinate children under twelve continue to leave issues and concerns in all fields. Buildings need to...
Applicability of New York City’s “Pet Law” to condominiums
New York City’s so-called “pet law” prevents an owner from enforcing a “no-pet” provision in a lease unless, within three months of discovering the pet, the owner commences a case (usually an eviction proceeding in housing court) to enforce the provision. This...