Can I Get Rid of My Radiator Without Affecting Property Value?

March 10, 2015 — One of the many nice things of making the transition from renter to shareholder is that you can renovate your apartment to suit your needs. Well, provided you follow the building rules, as established by the board or management company. And provided you get board approval, confirm whether you need an alteration agreement, and obtain any requisite city permits. Hey, nothing worth having comes easy, right? Say you want to renovate your co-op, and want to take out a radiator in the living room to free up wall space. We typically hear of New Yorkers complaining about no heat in winter, but there are many who understand the sweltering hell their apartments can turn into, especially in older buildings. This is the case for one co-op shareholder, who writes to Brickunderground.com in this week's Ask an Expert: "How would I go about [getting rid of the radiator]? Would it affect the property values?" One of Brickunderground's experts offers sound advice: "If it's not too late, include the radiator removal as part of the renovation proposal you submit to the co-op board. Indeed, your building's alteration guidelines may specifically address radiators, and the board may have addressed a similar issue in the past." If you get the board's blessing, don't throw the radiator away. Keep it on hand in case "you or a future buyer wants it reinstalled," and make sure a licensed and insured plumber removes the radiator and caps the pipe.