When Alterations Get Exemptions

Most co-op and condo boards have iron-clad alteration agreements that spell out rules, fees, insurance requirements, time limits and other conditions that must be agreed upon before a shareholder or unit-owner can begin work inside an apartment. But what about minor jobs, such as painting a room, replacing a toilet, or installing new bathroom tiles?

While certain cosmetic upgrades like painting may not require board approval, policies vary from building to building, so it’s always wise to check with management before beginning any work inside an apartment, advises the Ask an Expert column in Brick Underground.

"Most commonly, paint and floor work and minor cosmetic things such as that do not require board approval but they do require some sort of green light that is sometimes called the 'decoration agreement'," explains Deanna Kory, a broker with Corcoran. "It also requires that the contractor be licensed and insured up to a certain dollar amount and that the insurance names the co-op as one of the insured."

Adds Compass agent Shirley Hackel, "Don’t think that just because you’ve paid dearly for your co-op apartment, you can make changes to your home as you wish without checking with the board."