HABITAT
Subscribe for Daily Updates!
it says in our prop lease theat the enrty door is the respnsibility of the coop. we are having the below problem and need advice on how to manage to get a new door from the coop.
the entry door to our coop apt was installed some 20 years ago with an old door. we are now having problems with the bottom lock and notice that the door is slightly warped withinthe frame. this means you have to push and pull to open and close - it is also impossible to replace the bottom lock since it is bashed from a break in attempt to whatever apt it was on prior to this one.
it will not work properly with new locks - it will merely be a jury-rigges situation. how can we get the coop to give us the new door we need? advice please. they tend to be very frugul and difficult even if this is their responsibility.
Sandy,, Unitl the Board takes you seriously, they probably won't respont... We have changed the course of our Building with "Email Power", and all it takes is one determined person.
I suggest that you start an Email trail. Send the same or variation of the same, Eamil every week requesting that your door be changed. Inform them that this is a safty issue, enviormental issue or quality of life issue. But keep the Emails going.
Also, send Emails (every week) to the Man company (they absolutely HATE the Email trail) and any other Email addresses you may have. and very simply be determined and persistant.
Call the DOB and register a complaint. They will come to the building to check for a violation.. and if there is, than the CoOp will have to pay a fine...
Also if you are a renter, your apartment OWNER, is responsible, so do include him on the Emial train, or overwhelm him with letters. (type them up, and send them out weekly... Unfortunately its the squeky wheel that gets the grease....
The coop is definitely responsible for the entrance door to your apartment - if if doesn't close correctly, etc - get all your corporate documents it is in there - Did you write to management company and coop board - do it in writing - if nothing is done call 311 - if the door is seriously damaged and cannot be fixed they must replace - Building department will come down to investigate and if there is problem they will issue a violation - keep writing to management and board as to status - if they do nothing you can replace and take them to small claims court - don't take them to housing court - I did that and won, door must be replaced but the management company and board still played me - if you have a building violation saying it must be replaced that is it - get price of door, all court costs and if they are really bad maybe damages or time charges
i live in a co-op in yonkers. they recently put my carbon monoxide tester in my apt i have told them i was never given fire alarms. they never did anything to give them to me. i never knew we were supposed to have them in the apt. no one ever told me. there is one in the hallway. there four units in my dwelling. i do not believe there are sprinklers. there definitely not in my unit.
also. i have had an ongoing and consistant problem with my front door to my apartment. i have gotten lock out on several occasions over the last six years. the empergency number asked if i wanted a new knob or door. i said door of course. well the manager at my co-op is on a power trip and she told me no i am not getting you a new door. you will get a new knob. since then that knob has given me time and time again problems where i have to have them over to fix. now the problem is worse i can't get out of my apt. sometimes i am total stuck in there and its basically turning the knob back and forth and wiggling to get out. i am scared if there is a fire there is absolutely no way i am getting out.
i had the maintainance guy there today and he said the door is cracked and we have to replace door. i said well its no wonder i can't get out and this is been on going problem. said he would tell the manager and get back to me. but didnt'. i called no return call. my friend called no return call to them. i want to know isn't it required to have fire doors? also they sent out a notice and i still have copy of 2o05 and 2006 all tenants to have fire doors through a phase. i told the maintainance i should get the fire door right/ and he totally hesistated and said i will go tell theresa? this is ridiculous? i could die in a fire b/c of some scam they are pulling on the town/ this co op is known for getting bought off, fixed elections so we can't switch management companies and totally abuse of power to terrorize other female tenants. i know one being harrassed in my complex is a female police officer. its ridiculous and no one does anything. i always say something and i am penalized or ignored b/c they hate that i don't sit idolly by to be screwed.
if anyone can help i live in bryn mawr co ops in yonkers new york off central ave.
people deserve to get honesty and not get robbed in todays day and age especially with our economy the way it is.
thank you
sonja kahian
The email that stated the following is definitely correct - 1) The coop is definitely responsible for your door - 2) write letters to management, cc board & lawyer describing everything - dates that problem began, what steps you have taken - contacting management, board, etc - take pictures - 3) definitely call 311 - an inspector will come down and look at the problem, discuss it with you and issue a violation with a date that it must be rectified, if they violate that definitely take them to small claims court - make sure that you have gotten quotes from door companies, etc not housing court which I did upon the suggestion of a lawyer and then my board and management company violated the court order
You are right; the coop is responsible for the entry door.
There are few things that need to be considered:
1. Has a professional locksmith or even a knowledgeable super been called to check the hinges and door alignment?
2. If after the door has been inspected and found beyond repair, then it should be changed. Many of the doors in buildings are built to provide some fire protection by not allowing drafts into a building in a fire. If sufficiently warpped, may not render the required fire safety requirements.
This is something the board needs to consider once they call a good professiona locksmith that does not only limit himself/herself to the door mechanism but to the entire door alignment.
For your information, a steel door may be over $1,000 + installation costs and taxes. The co-op should be looking to spend over $1500. This is why boards tend to think about a change of this nature. Thus, an opinion of the entire door and how it hangs should be important before considering to replace a door.
AdC
Introduce yourself to other members of Board Talk! Log in below or register here.
Board Talk members who registered prior to March 9th, 2016 will need to reset their password.
Board Talk members who registered prior to March 9th, 2016 will need to reset their password.
Habitat u
visit habitat uHabitat U: learn about how to manage a building, and what you should know as a co-op or condo board member.
Archives
search
Search, by word or phrase, all magazine articles from January 2002 to present. You may print or email your results. Print subscribers receive free access to the Habitat Article Archive.
Ask the Experts
learn moreLearn all the basics of NYC co-op and condo management, with straight talk from heavy hitters in the field of co-op or condo apartments
Professionals in some of the key fields of co-op and condo board governance and building management answer common questions in their areas of expertise
Subscribe
join nowGot elected? Are you on your co-op/condo board?
Then don’t miss a beat! Stories you can use to make your building better, keep it out of trouble, save money, enhance market value, and make your board life a whole lot easier!
Sandy, do you mean the front door to the building? And that it used to be the front door to someone's apartment?
Thank you for rating!
You have already rated this page, you can only rate it once!
Your rating has been changed, thanks for rating!
Board Talk members who registered prior to March 9th, 2016 will need to reset their password.