Q 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 platfo…

 While it’s not a word listed with Merriam-Webster, hardscaping is as critical to outdoor  aesthetics and function as its softer and more oft-mentioned cousin,  landscaping. Whereas the latter deals with appropriate weaving and placement o…

There are only two kinds of unit owners in any given condominium: those who live there and those who do not. Resident owners often take measures to tax absentee owners with additional fees, or establish policies to diminish landlord own…

The snow is finally starting to melt after what has seemed like an extra long winter. Of course, that means the grass is thankfully starting to peek through and reintroduce itself. And with this reintroduction comes a required spring c…

In the realms of resource management and environmental concerns, coal, oil, and carbon dioxide get a lot of press—yet water is one of our most precious, most wasted, and least talked about commodities. One of the biggest culprits when i…

It’s like something from a horror movie: a six-legged invader arrives in New York, stowed away in wooden shipping crates from Mainland China. Once ashore, the creatures fan out, looking for food. The beast has no natural predators here,…

These days, nearly everybody is looking for ways to save money. Like many families, some community associations are now dealing with the consequences of not having been thrifty in the past, and searching for ways to pare back their bot…

Q I am on the board of directors of a 336-unit condominium in New Jersey. My question is in reference to the contractors’ registration act that requires contractors to register with the state if they  are doing residential work. Since …

Q Can a homeowner association record a lien against a home in an HOA, when the  matter (cause and amount of indebtedness) has been adjudicated in District  Court in favor of the HOA homeowner and has been appealed by the association? …

 The first robin appears. The sun stays out a little longer in the evenings, the  tiniest nubs of crocus begin to break through the mud, and landscape crews  begin mucking out flowerbeds. Just as sure as turning the calendar page to  March…