Legal Talk for Co-ops and Condos
Co-op and condo board directors face a myriad of challenges they are not equipped to solve, and taking action can be a fraught experience. In this series, Habitat Magazine editors interview New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys for guidance on these challenges. Habitat, a New York City publication founded in 1982, is edited for co-op and condo board directors, property managers, and other professionals.
Episodes
52 episodes
Why Your Building's 1969 Bylaws Could Sink Your Board
Most co-op and condo boards are operating with bylaws that haven't been touched since the Nixon administration. Dean Roberts, senior partner at Norris McLaughlin, reveals how outdated bylaws create re...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 2
•
16:28
The Proprietary Lease Amendment That Backfired Spectacularly
The Dakota, a historic co-op on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, won their case — spending $2.4 million in legal fees defending themselves against a shareholder’s charge of discrimination. And then the court said they couldn’t collect a dime in leg...
•
Season 3
•
Episode 1
•
18:24
Why Your Next Contract Could Cost You Thousands
Co-op and condo boards often move too quickly when hiring contractors, which can lead to problems later on. Contractor-written proposals can lack board protections like indemnification and the ability to recover attorney's fees. Signing these i...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 39
•
11:00
Why Timing Means Everything in Condo Foreclosure
A condo board let an arrears situation drag on for years, convinced they had no chance of recovering delinquent common charges against an owner with massive tax and mortgage debts. They were wrong. Eric Goldberg, partner at
•
Season 2
•
Episode 38
•
16:23
How Your Neighbor Might Hold Your Renovation Hostage
When buildings need to place scaffolding on a neighbor's roof or temporarily close off a courtyard, some owners see dollar signs, while others face project-killing delays. As a result, the space between New York City buildings has become a surp...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 37
•
20:47
Why the Storefront Isn’t So Simple
That dry cleaner or restaurant on your building's ground floor might seem like a simple revenue stream, but the dynamics behind managing commercial tenants are surprisingly complex. Christopher Tumulty, partner at
•
Season 2
•
Episode 36
•
16:36
When Water Damage Goes Wrong
A $30,000 water leak becomes a $300,000 nightmare — all because a board waited too long to act. Ian Brandt, partner at Davidoff Hutcher & Citron, exposes the surprising traps that leave buildings with mas...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 35
•
16:05
From Empty Storefront to Steady Income
When a co-op or condo loses a commercial tenant, a cash crunch often follows. Finding a new tenant is just the beginning — the real challenge is structuring a lease that protects the building’s finances and residents. Mark Axinn, partner at
•
Season 2
•
Episode 34
•
18:17
Why Your Building's Insurance Costs Keep Skyrocketing
No building is ever really prepared for a contractor accident, but you can be proactive about keeping your building protected. Howard Schechter, partner at Fox Rothschild, breaks down the critical co...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 33
•
24:17
Document Requests Are Rising and Your Board Needs a Plan
Every board dreads that moment when a shareholder demands to see corporate documents, contracts, or financial records. But ignoring the request isn't an option. Evan Gitter, partner at Cohen Warren Meyer & Git...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 32
•
14:15
Why Your Alteration Rules Might Land You in Court
When board members think they have unlimited power, they run the risk of going too far when handling unit owner alterations. Carol Sigmond, partner at GreenspoonMarder, shares eye-opening stories from her le...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 31
•
15:44
Board Members' Worst Nightmare: When Bad Faith Ruins Everything
The Business Judgement Rule protects a lot of board decisions, but when your actions are ruled “in bad faith,” everything changes. Steven Sladkus, partner at Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg and Atlas, unpacks a...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 30
•
17:17
The Ladder Approach to Resolving Apartment Smoking Disputes
Smoking disputes have exploded since the pandemic, and they're turning neighbors into enemies faster than ever. In this episode, Peter Massa, partner at the law firm Fox Rothschild, reveals why board...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 29
•
13:07
How One Late Payment Can Sink Your Building's Budget
Every board will have to deal with residents in arrears at some point. But in this conversation, Marc Schneider, managing partner and CEO at the law firm Schneider Buchel, reveals why waiting even 45 d...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 28
•
16:48
Navigate Co-op Ownership Transfers Without Legal Drama
It’s too easy for the complex world of co-op ownership transfers to become a costly headache. Attorney Aaron Shmulewitz, partner at the law firm, Belkin Burden and Goldman, breaks down the three main types of c...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 27
•
14:01
Don't Let Your Next Construction Project Bankrupt Your Building
If you're facing a major renovation, some crucial information could save you thousands of dollars and months of headaches. Attorney Lisa Radetsky, partner at the law firm Phillips Nizer, reveals why ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 26
•
17:40
How to Collect Overdue Maintenance Without Going to Court
If you’re struggling with unit owners who aren't paying maintenance or common charges, you're not alone. Attorney Maria Beltrani, partner at Schwartz Sladkus Reich Greenberg and Atlas, reveals game-changing pre-...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 25
•
21:56
Protecting Your Building from Renovation Nightmares
You might not expect it, but your alteration agreement might be setting your building up for years of headaches and potential lawsuits. In this episode, Ingrid Manevitz, a partner in the law firm Seyfarth Sha...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 24
•
12:39
Smart Strategies for Managing Smoking in Your Building
If you’re struggling with smoking issues in your building, Helene Hartig, founder and principal at Hartig Law, offers boards practical guidance on establishing rules that will actually pass a shareholder ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 23
•
14:11
From Arrears to Foreclosure, Collection Strategies That Work
Do you have a roadmap for handling delinquent payments? Caryn Meyer, partner at Cohen, Warren, Meyer & Gitter, has a plan. In this episode, she tackles the entire collection journey, from establishing clea...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 22
•
14:59
When the Business Judgment Rule Works — and When It Doesn't
Your board can sleep better at night knowing your decisions are protected by the business judgment rule — but it's not absolute. In this episode, Eric Goidel, a partner at Borah, Goldstein, Altschuler, ...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 21
•
16:43
Drawing the Line: Who Pays When Your Co-op or Condo Breaks?
Confused about who's responsible for that leaky window or damaged floor? If your board has ever faced a battle over repairs, you know that ambiguous governing documents can often lead to disputes. Ken Jacobs, a partner at the law firm
•
Season 2
•
Episode 20
•
16:49
David vs. Developer: Protecting Your Property Rights
In the era of Local Law 11 work, the access agreement has become so mundane that it usually doesn’t cause controversy. That isn’t true, though, for buildings facing a developer who wants to build a new building next door. Mark Hankin, partner a...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 19
•
14:03
The Eviction Playbook: How Boards Can Legally Handle Problematic Residents
Intolerable behavior is everyone’s nightmare, and solving the problem first falls in the lap of a co-op or condo board. Often this is tossed to the building’s attorney or managing agent because the solution is painful, relentless and full of le...
•
Season 2
•
Episode 18
•
16:20