Most board members think their general liabilities policy covers all pollution and environmental risks. That is simple NOT THE CASE and if your building experienced something like Legionnaires Disease bacteria, which occured in Co-City in the Bronx - http://nydn.us/1ySwJVX - , your board, it's members and all the tenants could be financiallty responsible for clean up costs and more importantly, all medical, rehab, etc. costs related to infected individuals. I can help.
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Our condo-board already has sent one letter to my neighbor over the loud volume of his music, citing how building security had confirmed the volume and noting he was in violation of condo rules. He heeded the board for several months (also due partly to him and his wife becoming parents of a newborn and needing to be quiet) but the issue has arisen.
Here is something that, after some back-and-forth, he texted me today. What do fellow Board Talk commenters think of this?
"You know I could turn 180 degrees and ruin your day with music and it would be well within my legal rights and Nyc law for noise generation. You know that. You know that you are super sensitive and the volume is not anywhere near where any court would ever adjudicate in your favor. Believe me I have researched this. But I don't do it. […] I am now convinced that there is no way that you could ever win in any court of board if we really measure the sound [...] This is the last time I am going to retreat."
I don't think he's actually "within [his] legal rights" to play music long enough and loudly enough to deliberately "ruin [my or anyone else's] day." What are your thoughts?
Hi Folks,
Need any feedback you can provide on the following situation.
Background about my co-op: Co-op 30 years, the sponsor still owns 51% and is also the managing agent. I bought in years ago and was able to obtain financing through the big banks.
My job is being transferred out of the tri-state area. So we listed our co-op. Turns out we got a buyer at a decent price willing to put down 20%, with good credit. The issue we found out today is that none of the big banks will extend financing because owner occupancy is too low. The mortgage broker they are working with says Chase, Wells Fargo, HSBC, Citi and Bank of America have all declined specifically sighting co-op issues around owner occupancy.
The board says nothing they can do, the managing agent won’t comment.
What options do I have? While it may damage my credit, is allowing the apartment to go into a legal proceeding with the co-op the right way to go? (im up to date with the co-op and my mortgage)
But my job will be gone by end of April and time is not on my side.
It was a real blow today to hear a good offer going down the tubes.
Any ideas?
I have just been elected to my Co Op Board this past November and hold the position of Treasurer. The Managing Agent handles all of our finances, pays the bills, issues checks, etc. Every Month all board members get a Monthly report with checks issued, bills paid all debits and credits. I have basically been doing nothing; what should my role be and should the Managing Agent take care of all this business?
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We live in small 12 unit coop. There's seems to be from time to time new faces with luggage entering the building. When I questioned this once I had management ask the suspected coop owner for contact info in people staying in apartment. Coop owner became irate, angry and demanded name of person wanting this information. This owner btw is a lawyer and has a history in building if suing people, board and starts campaigns against people complaining about him. He's trouble.
Building has been clear about airbb and also has a guest policy (register names with management).
I still suspect something is going on bc still see people coming and going with suitcases.
How can this be handled. ESP, with someone who claims to be victimized?
A woman in our small condo building apparently got permission from the board president to leave her baby carriage around the corner from the foot of the stairs, in our walk up building (next to the basement entryway). This was so that she could take her baby up to her top floor apartment and later come down to carry up the carriage. And now, the woman is basically leaving the carriage by the basement door continuously - apparently she never takes it up to her apartment. I was thinking that if the building is fined by the fire department, that the owner of the baby carriage should pay the fine (rather than the entire building bearing the cost). However, I am realizing that there may be other negatives to the building, besides a fine, should this happen. When buyers are considering a purchase, isn't there a listing of violations that the building has incurred? I am about to suggest that the managing agent write her a note telling her she must remove the carriage. Any thoughts?
> Join the conversation Comments (3)http://nypost.com/2015/01/16/property-tax-increases-leave-condo-co-op-owners-fuming/
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Dear friends,
Tomorrow Justice for Homeowners will be joined by the Public Advocate Letitia James, Comptroller Scott Stringer, and Assemblyman Keith Wright to raise funds for Justice for Homeowners defense, litigation, and organizing efforts. Many labor leaders and homeowners will be in attendance. Also, if you are good with social media, we are starting an online fundraising campaign and need the link to be sent around and our message tweeted!
Feel free to stop by tomorrow
10:00AM - 11:30AM
NYC District Council of Carpenters - 395 Hudson Street
10th Floor
Justice for Homeowners is a coalition of homeowners, workers, community members, and labor activists,negatively impacted by the City’s plan to build or preserve 165,000 units of affordable housing. To meet this goal, the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD), the primary vehicle creating new, government-subsidized affordable housing in the City, allows for every possible short cut. The fallout of this urgent push to build more for less is inferior and shoddy construction, which has led to an epidemic of chronic structural issues for the homeowners and tenants, and endemic exploitation of the workers who build these homes.
HPD building projects are designed to provide affordable homes and financing tools for low to moderate income families, and help develop and revitalize neighborhoods. Many of these projects are conducted through a lottery of potential applicants who must meeting specific criteria. Due to the large volume of applicants and lengthy process, being selected to receive a HPD home can be perceived as a great accomplishment. This accomplishmenthowever, quickly turns into a nightmare for many new, middle class homeowners promised affordable housing purchased in good faith from HPD, only to discover significant structural problems.
Justice for Homeownersgoal is to strengthen the voice of homeowners, tenants, and workers in the affordable housing industrythrough collective action and advocacy. Together they the demandtransparency and accountability and procurement reform necessary to help them regain their dream of homeownership, and protect future buyers.
WE HAVE FOUND:
• New, middle class homeowners promised affordable housing purchased in good faith from HPD, only to discover significant structural problems.
• A pattern of unresponsive, and often even dismissive replies to homeowner and tenant concerns by both HPD and the developers.
• Homeowners, often unable to sell due to subsidized purchase agreements, are forced to invest additional personal funds to repair their brand new homes, negating the “affordability” of the home.
• Taxpayer money earmarked to assure good jobs and quality homes is instead going to line the pockets of wealthy developers.
We are asking that HPD address the subpar construction of our homes once and for all.
Our Neighbors Need Our Help!
Tweet @NYChousing:
“It’s time for you to #FixOurHomes!”
Follow us on Twitter:
@justice4homeown
Donate and Share!
www.indiegogo.com/projects/justice-4-nyc-homeowners
Join The FightTo Build It Right
Hi All,
I'm on the board of my assoc. Here is my question and pardon my ignorance. The developer who refurbished our building installed a washer/dryer in the building. I was one of the original buyers, and I never saw a contract for his washers/dryers to be there. He has been asked for this several times without producing one. He says that he does have one and that it is a lifetime contract.
Can a lifetime contract exist?
Also, all of the residents pay for the water, electricity and he picks up the coins and makes all of the profits. Is this correct?
Thanks for your answers.
Hello,
I'd appreciate some advice on how to convert from coin-operated laundry to card in my small (10 units) condo. Our machines are quite old - I believe from 1987. The washers are Maytag Neptune, the dryers are ADC (American Dryer Corporation); the washers cost 1.50 in quarters and the dryer costs .25 for 6 minutes. I am not on the board so do not have information on whatever contractual obligations we have but could find out (I believe my last building had a contract with Hercules). I hardly see anymore condos or coops with coin operated laundry and I suspect this is one thing making my building less desirable than others on the market. Thanks for any advice.
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Mark,
Ned is correct, so is Wayne albeit with further clarity. Firstly your insurance policy's should provide for environmental risks. So... if you self-manage, whomever is assigned must know about insurance as well. Of course you will hire an Ins. Agent who will/should discuss all of the potential pit falls, with clarity, to the Board.
You may want to consider outsourcing the accounting function to an independent third party.....
You may want to consider hiring an individual who has a number of years of property/facilities management experience.
If you choose, I am available to discuss.
Best wishes,
Joe
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