Remember your first day at a new school? Most likely, you didn’t know a soul, had no idea what the students were learning and you probably felt nervous, intimidated or maybe even afraid. In most cases, this is what it’s like to be a new …
Q I am a shareholder in a cooperative of 121 units and 152 parking spaces. My question concerns the rightful use and maintenance of community property. Every shareholder is entitled one parking space at a fee of $20 per month. The addi…
Managing a condominium or cooperative building would be a piece of cake… if weren’t for all those people. The bricks and mortar is easy. Sending out bills, contracting building repairs, filing papers, commissioning and preparin…
A co-op or condo community’s annual meeting is just business, though these gatherings can sometimes be the site of personal acrimony, or feuding between residents. But annual meetings needn’t be a source of friction, and can serve as a …
The main source of any condo or co-op’s revenue comes from monthly maintenance fees. That seems self-evident. But sometimes a building or development may suddenly need to undergo emergency repairs or fund large capital improvem…
Q Our sale is being blocked by a condo association application wanting our social security numbers to run credit checks. We will not release that information. It is not in their bylaws or documents recorded with the county. Do they have…
Q I wonder what your take is on open meetings. Are all shareholders and unit owners invited to attend? Are they allowed to make comments? Are they allowed to attend the entire meeting? Is there some portion of the meeting that relates t…
Remember that thick stack of documents you received when you bought your condo or co-op? If you're like most people, they're probably sitting in a drawer or in the back of your filing cabinet, communing with the dust bunnies, largely f…
Q My parents were the owners of a cooperative apartment. My mother and father were both listed on the membership certificate. However, my parents divorced in 1993 but the membership certificate remained in both names. My mother died ear…
Q A bunch of shareholders have been trying to get a copy of the shareholders list for a number of different reasons but have been denied by the Board of Directors every time. I have looked online and have called numerous state agencies…