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Welcome to Board Talk, the area of Habitatmag.com where co-op.condo board directors can chat about topics that they face, and have to make choices about. We welcome intelligent and informed discussion to our forum. If you are going to criticize an individual or firm, we ask that you take responsibility for doing so by signing your name and board or company position. Anonymous criticisms are not useful, and are subject to deletion.

No Subject — Anonymous, Fri Nov 20 1:57pm
Just heard that Brown Harris Stevens purchased Penmark Realty.
Egress for Pre-War Residential — meantone, Tue Nov 17 9:56pm
Hi, We just got new doors put on our 41 unit pre-war building and were told by the board that they needed to open out from the inside due to NYC building code. Because of the narrowness of the landing it poses a great inconvenience when entering the building. No other buildings on the block that have changed their... more
Gel Fireplaces — I_Dunno, Sun Nov 15 5:02pm
I live in a condop. And, I wish to buy a gel burning fireplace. Is this allowed in a NYC apartment building?
2010 Budget — Jim Flores, Fri Nov 13 2:25pm
What is your board seeing as the problem areas of your 2010 budget planning? Are you going to raise maintenance? If so, by how much?
Restricting cost of super's utilities — Anonymous, Thu Nov 12 12:30pm
Our board is considering capping our super's electricity costs (he would pay the difference between the cap and total used). We could save approximately $650 a year doing this. Though our operating expenses are about 1 million dollars, we are trying to save on every minor cost. On the other hand, if payment for all... more
Corporation Dissolution — Jeff Neeke, Thu Nov 12 11:13am
Is it ever feasible/plausible that a board suggest corporation dissolution, and how would this need to be consented to by shareholders? For example, if a developer's offer for a coop building far exceeded what shareholders could sell their apartments for collectively, how would this be accomplished if all agree, and... more
Security, vandalism — dphelan, Thu Nov 5 11:49am
We have recently experienced vandalism on a few landings, liquids (possibly urine) have been poured in front of several doors. We have a good security system in the lobby, etc. However, we are looking for a simple way to monitor specific landings on an as needed basis. We would like something that we can install on a... more
Combining apts — JB, Wed Nov 4 9:00am
Does one or does one not need a C of O after combining co-op apartments, with board approval, licensed/bonded architect, contractor, etc. I've heard that in the 1990s, the law changed to say it's no longer needed when combining apartments, but apparently word didn't get out. Anyone know anything?
HDFC guidelines — AH, Sat Oct 31 3:28pm
Hi can you tell me what the new wage guidelines are for a hdfc building thank you
Website — dphelan, Thu Oct 29 1:24pm
I'm looking to set up a website using Wordpress and would like to know if anyone has used a free theme they could recommend. Looking to have a public and private area, along with a bulletin board for the board. Thanks, David
  • Re: Website — Jack in Brooklyn, Fri Oct 30 8:45am
    • Website — Mr. Manager, Fri Oct 30 11:17am
Signage on your building — Frank, Thu Oct 29 9:10am
For an upcoming Habitat article, has any board member worked to acquire paid signage for your building, such as an advertising billboard draped on one side? If so, please contact Frank Lovece at flovece@habitatmag.com today or tonight with contact information. Your experiences can help other co-ops/condos do it the... more
Rats in Toilet? — BN, Thu Oct 29 12:15am
A shareholder whose unit is on ground level and basement says she say a rat try to climb out of her toilet bowl last night. We know we have a mouse problem, but this is a new event. The sewer line from the street comes in through their unit or access to it is from their unit--not sure which. Anyone have this happen in ... more
Firing and hiring super — Anonymous, Sun Oct 25 3:07pm
We have a non-union super in our co-op that we are thinking of replacing. About how long does it take to find a good, non-union super? About how long should we plan on transitioning out the current super (who has a rent free unit but does not own shares) - should we give him notice and let him take about 3 months to... more
Sublet Policy — DavidG, Sat Oct 24 12:53pm
Hi everyone, have a question and looking for feedback regarding subletting. Currently we have 3 sublets in our 57 unit building that have been for over 10 years, I have proposed a new policy that would allow subletting for 3 of every 5 years and add a fee. No problem there, that said, several board members would like... more
Raising ceiling height revisited — GN, Sat Oct 24 12:08am
There was a to and fro about this before, but it was more about the legal and code issues of a shareholder raising the height of their ceiling. We have a shareholder who is on parlor floor that has 100" ceiling height. He just found while fixing a leak, that his unit has what appears to be a dropped ceiling and that... more
ramifications for coop sponsors Stuy Town ruling — Luciille Ball, Fri Oct 23 3:14pm
the sponsors, in our coop that gets j-51 benefits, for many years have been deregulate apts in a coop as they become available (buy-outs or deaths) and then rents them at market rate. What are the ramifications for these market-rate rental tenants? can they get their rents reduced? (Might encourage the sponsor to sell ... more
a furniture delivery and insurance — sam, Mon Oct 19 7:45pm
in any given coop, if a resident is having a single item delivered by either friends or Crate & Barrell or a man with van- say, a couch, is it at all normal for the resident to have to have to deposit a $500 check to the coop in advance? This is not for a move in/out, it is for a single item delivery. Given that the... more
No Subject — Ed in NY, Mon Oct 19 4:54pm
We are a small condo with a super and 5 other full-time staff. We want to get health insurance for our super, but can't afford to cover anyone else. It seems group coverage is out because the NYS minimum group is two people. Sole proprietor seems odd because he'd have to register with the city clerk and that would... more
sublet fee for relitives — bandit61, Thu Oct 15 4:04pm
We have a shareholder that has moved out and let her neice move in. Can we charge a sublet fee,or are they protectected by the NYC roommate law
Super's job — AB, Fri Oct 9 10:19pm
We have 2 small building 5fl 30 apts. Part time super takes care of garbage, boiler, cleans glass doors each day, washes down front once a week although steps need more due to bird droppings. Wage app. $1000 a month. insists on cleaning hallways once a week although asked several times to do so twice a week. Is he... more