Category: Q&A

Q We have a small condominium complex of 25 town houses. One home is owned by the son of the resident but the son does not live in the townhome. He has given his father a note allowing him to act on his behalf, as owner of the proper…

Q A residential tenant needs to have a chair rail installed so she can access her second floor apartment in our condo building, built in the 1950's. Who pays for the chair rail and the installation, the tenant or the condo associatio…

Q 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 exact…

Q “I am all for security in residential buildings, but it raises the issue of privacy. Our condo has about 40 apartments—half of which are condos, while the other half are rent-controlled apartments. The board just recently put camer…

Q I have been a shareholder and board member in my building for the past 20 years. A year ago, a new shareholder with two small children moved in above me, and since then noise has been a constant, serious problem as the kids’ room i…

Q Our management company just changed hands. The building records were shipped to the co-op, placed in a room across from the laundry and the rumor is that only the superintendent has the key. The other night when the new manager cam…

Q We are a 38-unit condo complex. We have had trouble finding owners to serve as board. Can we require owners to serve at least one term on the condo board during the time that they are owners of a unit? Can we permit them to pay a …

Q Can the president of a co-op board be in business with the management company’s owner without divulging it to the shareholders or other board members? The board members were recently notified that the owner is one of the board of d…

Q A neighbor down the hall from my condo apartment has installed a video camera over his doorway—presumably as a security measure. Our building has a doorman and double-locked vestibule, as well as security cameras in the lobby, so t…

Q “Our tenants’ association recently held its annual shareholder’s meeting. The objective for the new board was to dismiss the current management company. Many proxies had been collected by our door-to-door campaign, and there was al…