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How Property Managers Juggle Multiple Clients
Remember those old TV variety shows from the 1950s where someone spins a dozen plates while juggling and riding a unicycle? Sometimes being a property manager can be a bit like that, especially when handling multiple clients and dealing with the myriad tasks that come with handling those multiple clients. Read More
Q&A: ADA-Compliant?
Our co-op building, built in the early 1960’s, has a big open roof, accessible only by staircase. We want to add a removable, elevated deck, plants, and furniture to the roof. We have met with an elevator company to see if a platform or vertical lift could be installed, or if the existing elevator could be extended up to the roof—but none of these options are physically possible with the limited space available. What are our legal obligations to make the roof ADA-compliant? Read More
Q&A: Board Secretary Delinquent?
Last year, a board member discovered other directors have allowed our association secretary to be 10 months delinquent in his assessments. No action was taken. Other unit owners have been in the collection process for the same violation. After this problem was disclosed, the incumbent board members decided not to run in the next election. Read More
Q&A: Equating Co-op Shares with Apartment Sizes?
I live in a co-op with 41 units in Ocean City, New Jersey, and would be interested in knowing what the New Jersey co-op law is in regards to the number of shares that are proportionate to the size of the apartment occupied. Presently, the board is telling us that you can’t equate shares with the size of your unit. Is this true? Read More
Q&A: Defining a Service Animal
Do you have any information/documents that define the legal standards for a service animal? We have a pending request based on loosely-worded physician prescriptions and are concerned that approval of such may open the door for other such applications that could compromise out pet-restricted building? Read More
Q&A: Proper Notice of Meetings
“The board was advised by one of the owners that we must mail all the minutes of each directors' meeting to all the owners. Is this correct?” Read More
Q&A: Appropriate Fine Schedules
What is an appropriate fine schedule? Although we have had fine schedules, someone (new board members, residents, new managers) always seems to begin a debate on this topic which leaves the board in a quandary and not knowing exactly how to proceed. Unfortunately, the same people opening the debate fail to provide a workable solution or provide a solution that is totally subjective. Fines need to have a scale/schedule and be appropriate for the infraction. Any advice? Read More
Q&A: Alarmed Door Alarms Shareholders
I am a shareholder in a co-op building. The building has a main entrance and a service entrance. Management, without any notice to the tenants, decided to put an alarm on the service entrance door, and they changed the lock so we can no longer use this entrance. The main entrance has approximately five steps to enter, so this creates a problem with wheelchairs, shopping carts, strollers, etc. Is this legal? Read More
Q&A: Board Makeup Contrary to Bylaws
I reside and own shares in a co-op in Edison, New Jersey, which is experiencing many problems, including serious maintenance issues, due in part to poor service on the behalf of the current management company. Read More
Q&A: Failure to Distribute Minutes
I was newly elected to the board of a small (32-unit), self-managed cooperative, where traditionally there has been little transparency between the board and shareholders. The board has been stingy with information and oftentimes, focused on making decisions from a social point of view rather than a business point of view. I have asked the board president several times over the past three months, publicly and privately, (as well as the corporation secretary) to provide me with minutes of the last three years—so that I can better acquaint myself with board decisions, the history of repairs, capital improvements, etc. I would have thought that my interest in being informed would be regarded as positive, but instead I have been given the run-around. As a board member, don’t I have a legal right to inspect all corporate documents? What more should I do to access these minutes? Read More
