Category: Q&A

The original condo declaration, bylaws, amendments and house rules allow for  renovations without board approval to interior units if they do not affect  common area are not structural in nature. I installed a wall partition (does  not affe…

 My building has a rental apartment that was bought from a previous shareholder. Apparently, an amended document was not filed with the state attorney’s office, so there are still shares attached to this apartment. These shares were voted b…

I’m a president of a new condo and have no experience running one prior to this. There is an apartment in the condo that consistently has children dropped off. After some inquiry it turns out to be the children of relatives, around 4 or …

 The tenant below me smokes nonstop. Her windows are always fully open and the smoke travels directly into my  apartment above. My apartment smells like an ashtray and of course leaves us vulnerable to  second-hand smoke. Even with our wind…

Can a designated trustee of a co-op apartment serve as a member of a co-op board  in any role?     —Upper East Side Shareholder   A “The general answer to the question is yes provided that the bylaws of the  corporation or th…

 I am president of a co-op, which has a swimming pool. The question has come up  as to whether or not a lifeguard is required by law. I am writing because I  found an article on the Internet on cooperator.com found at  (cooperator.com/artic…

 I’m a condo owner in New York City. I have written to the management company of  our condo regarding some issues I have been having, but the management company  has not taken any action to remedy the situation. I would like to make my  mai…

Who is responsible for chimney maintenance in a New York City co-op? (Not all the apartments have fireplaces.) Also, who is responsible for  repairing/replacing windows? My apartment is a loft with unique windows that are not easily repaire…

What is a conservation easement? What are the tax advantages to a conservation  easement? Can a condo or co-op vote to place a conservation easement?     —Curious in New York  “An easement is a transfer of usage rights. Simply…

We are an 11-unit condo. association. In May 2006 two board members decided to  remove our 19-year-old mature beautiful shrubs (azaleas & rhododendrons) from in front of our units. They promised to replace them by September 2006. It has not…