Category: Law & Legislation

First in a series. To read part two, click here . The rights of people living with physical disabilities have always been closely entwined with the issue of housing discrimination. In some instances, cases involving discrimination and t…

In March  2015, an illegal tap on a gas line caused an explosion in a residential building in the East Village. Two lives were lost and three buildings were leveled. In the aftermath, it became clear that while the city required ins…

There are some expenses that boards don't have much control over - maintenance supplies, utilities, and fuel, just to name a few - but others can definitely be kept under control, and legal costs are one of them. In this clip, legal pros gi…

The rules are almost always different for co-ops, and that is most certainly true for occupancy issues.  One of the initial reasons for the co-op ownership structure, both on the part of the those already living there and those buying in, w…

Depending on our profession and habits, we may interact with dozens of people on any given day. And amidst all of these interactions, we inevitably experience annoyances: being squashed among fellow commuters on the train; scoffing at the d…

Whether as a member of a cooperative or a condominium association, a shareholder or unit owner maintains certain rights within their chosen community. However, achieving harmony among neighbors isn’t always easy. Rights aside, residents are…

It’s no secret that insurance is a necessity for any building or association. Nevertheless, the expense of coverage means that issues of liability and risk are all too often examined only after problems have occurred. Usually, insurance hol…

When it comes to legislation and legal issues that apply to condo associations, co-ops, and other multifamily housing models, the focus is often local: city ordinances, council meetings, and so forth – but there are judgments handed down an…

In the world of housing, discrimination is a very sensitive subject. A failure to understand it and abide by the laws could result in a lot of trouble, including for boards and owners at condos and co-ops. Avoiding such missteps involving…

Ideally, beloved heirlooms tend to stay in the family when applicable, passed down from one generation to be appropriately cherished by the next, ad infinitum. Unfortunately, many families are less than ideal, and thus inheritance can bec…