Hi pierogiz - Co-op apartments are a special type of of lessor/lessee arrangement that works like this. From a business organization perspective, a cooperative apartment building is owned by a unique form of not-for-profit corporation. This corporation owns the land (in most cases) and the building(s) outright.

When you "purchase" a co-op apartment you are actually buying shares of stock in the co-op corporation. At your closing you should have received a formal printed stock certificate showing how many shares you own and a copy of the corporation's Offering Plan. These are two key documents. If you took out a mortgage, the originator is given the stock certificate as collateral for the loan.

In exchange for owning the shares of stock apportioned to your unit, the co-op corporation grants you a Proprietary Lease. This is a special kind of lease that is similar to the lease you would sign if you simply rented your unit from a landlord.

Someone who owns a co-op apartment is both a shareholder in the corporation and at the same time is a leasee of the corporation. The terms "lessee" and "renter" are often interchanged, so you might be referred to as a renter.

To determine if you are a co-op owner or simply renting your apartment, think back to when you first signed a lot of paperwork and received the keys. Was it at a formal closing? Did you take out a mortgage? Did you pay one large sum at the closing or do you pay monthly rent to your landlord? Were you given an original or photocopy of a stock certificate? Do you remember receiving a copy of a thick document titled Offering Plan.

If your answer to these questions is "yes", you are most likely a co-op owner. If all you did was sign a lease and handed over a security deposit you are most likely a renter.

Once you determine what you are, the rest of your questions will fall into place.

Good luck!
--- Steve

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Hi,

On the D.O.F. website
https://a836-acris.nyc.gov/DS/DocumentSearch/BBL

Using block: 1177 and lot 1, for your address, it shows some units listed as a co-op, while others as apartment. ???

While renters do not have the same rights as owners,
maintenance issues should absolutely be addressed and resolved.

The Business Corporation Law states Co-Ops are required to hold annuals meetings and have a board of directors.

As a renter, you don not have any rights to vote, however if the management company is not responding to your maintenance needs, you would at least be and to reach out to the board

(602)
"A meeting of shareholders shall be held annually for the election of directors and the transaction of other business on a date fixed by or under the by-laws.  A failure to hold the annual meeting on the date so fixed or to elect a sufficient number of directors to conduct the business of the corporation shall not work a forfeiture or give cause for dissolution of the corporation"

You might try and contact the department of finance for assistance or call 311. I have found Marcel Dixon to be very helpful.

Marcel Dixon
NYC Department of Finance│External Affairs
212-602-7050

DixonM@finance.nyc.gov

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I definitely rent my apartment, however, I think the landlord doesn’t have a functioning coop board at the building as everyone is a renter... how do I. Find out which apartment is still under rent control in the building and actually physically go and speak to those tenants to see if they are under rent control

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N.Y. Attorney General

https://formsnym.ag.ny.gov/OAGOnlineSubmissionForm/faces/OAGREFHome;jsessionid=y44nathAXmNrxUAjlP9uVF7ZZE0QceOF9WS6_mUsdQQG6bJAjs0z!2126564131

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Hope this helps....

https://www.habitatmag.com/Publication-Content/Co-op-Condo-Buyers/2008/2008-December/Renters-Rights-in-Co-op-and-Condo-Apartment-Buildings

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