One truism of home ownership is that there is always something that needs to be fixed or upgraded. That’s true in condo and co-op communities as well, both large and small. There’s always a roof to replace or a boiler to upgrade, or a lobby…
With the advent of legislation legalizing marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes in a number of U.S. states, many co-op and condo communities are now faced with a new quality-of-life issue. Apartment living is of course very d…
When a crisis hits a multifamily community—or any other organization—the difference between a good outcome and a disastrous one is often a matter of simple preparedness. Residential communities in particular need to have a plan in case of a…
When one buys a private single-family home, the homeowner is king or queen of the proverbial castle. When it comes to condominium and cooperative ownership, however, the landscape is more complex. While the shareholder or unit owner rules w…
In a community association, it falls on the board to put out any fires that ignite among the property’s residents. But what happens when that blaze springs up between the board members themselves? Those who volunteer to serve on their com…
The reality of climate change is upon us. Weather patterns have changed, and seasons have been altered. We experience more intense heat, more frequent, destructive storms, wide-ranging wildfires, and more destructive cold. Tornadoes—the spa…
Q. On March 31, 2020, after calling my HOA, I was given verbal permission to replace my roof, which was leaking. I signed a contract to replace the roof on April 15, 2020. Now the board has sent me a letter with a $500 fine for not gettin…
On August 9, 2021, the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a scathing report detailing the indisputable impacts that human activity have made on the planet—many of them reaching the point of irreversibil…
Outdoor space, whether communal or private to individual units, has always been at the top of the most-desired amenities list for condominium and co-op purchasers. A small terrace or balcony can add hours of quiet enjoyment to apartment liv…
In multifamily properties, different households share in the use, visual enjoyment, and enhanced property value of landscaped outdoor elements. That means that a lot of consideration goes into deciding what and where to plant, how to mainta…