Q. As we all know, the cost of everything including services and materials related to maintaining an association property has risen dramatically over the last couple of years. Clearly, our association budget and monthly fees should be su…
Q. Many owners in our association have questions about what happens at our monthly board meetings. Our board refuses to release any meeting minutes to the owners, and even told me that they do not record who voted for what in the meeting …
While climate change may have reduced the frequency of multi-foot snowfalls in the New York metro, when we do get dumped on, the precipitation tends to be heavier and icier than the fluffy drifts of decades past. With that shift comes conce…
At the bedrock of a shared interest community, like a condo or co-op, is how and by whom the property is managed. While self-management may make the most economic sense for smaller communities, and there are certainly good examples of effec…
It’s a truism that nothing lasts forever—and that includes management contracts. Shared interest communities change management companies all the time, and for a variety of reasons. Those reasons can range from cost to effectiveness and ever…
Q. I have reason to believe my condo board is misusing common funds and hiring friends and family to carry out work on our property instead of bidding out the jobs. There may even be kickbacks involved. When I’ve reached out to our manage…
If you live in a condominium, cooperative or HOA, guess what? You’re part of a participatory mini-democracy run by an elected group of volunteers. As such, it’s to your benefit to get involved in how your community is governed in order to p…
In the world of owned residential communities like HOAs, condo associations, and co-ops, the issue of leased or sublet units is often the elephant in the corner of the communal room. Most owners choose to buy homes in shared-interest commun…
‘Tis the season for visitors, packages, and festive gatherings. Along with the good cheer, the end-of-year flurry of activity also highlights the challenges of keeping multifamily buildings and their residents safe and secure. In addition …
The proximity to neighbors that comes with living in a high-rise or townhome HOA can sometimes amplify situations that might seem less urgent in more spread-out communities. Along with things like noise and odors, residents’ behavior can al…