Courtesy Repair Lists Should Be Common in Co-ops

Smart co-op boards establish and distribute a list of “courtesy repairs” – minor work the co-op agrees to pay for even though there might be some question as to who is responsible for the repairs. The super and all shareholders should get a copy of the list to avoid confusion when it comes time to perform and pay for these minor repairs, says Ask Real Estate in the New York Times.

Shareholders are generally responsible for making repairs within the walls of their apartment, while the co-op is responsible for repairs to the building itself. There are gray areas. While your shower is inside your apartment, the drain runs into the building’s wall and down to the sewer. If the drain becomes clogged, the co-op is responsible for unclogging it – unless your negligence caused the clogging, says real estate lawyer Peter Livingston of the firm Rosen Livingston & Cholst.

Unclogging a shower drain is prime candidate for your building’s courtesy list – a repair the super will make at no cost to the shareholder.