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I wrote to our board quoting the bylaws that allow me to take a portion of the hallway near my door that no one else can ever use in anyway. The board responded that I can buy it for the same price per Sq ft as apartments in the coop.
Then my next statement showed a charge of $300. When I inquired I was told it was legal fees for researching my question. Can they do that without notifying me that research is necessary and that it will cost me?
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You'll need to check your proprietary lease, but most leases only put the burden of legal fees on the shareholder when the shareholder is in default. Another case: you might reach an agreement to pay the coop's legal fees involving the preparation of a contract to purchase part of the hallway, as you are describing. But getting charged $300 for simply asking a question seems inappropriate to me. You might ask the board to point to the provision in the proprietary lease authorizing this chargeback.
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