New York City’s City Council recently passed the FARE Act, meaning tenants are no longer responsible for paying broker fees. Instead, that cost will now be passed on to landlords or management companies and most tenants will no longer have to foot the bill. Let’s take a closer look at what that means for you. […]
As a shareholder in a co-op building (especially if you’re an owner serving on the co-op board), it’s important you know about HDP violations. New York City’s Department of Housing Preservation and Development issues these violations for infractions ranging from leaky refrigerators to heating system failure. And the enforcement of these quality of life laws […]
In a previous post, we discussed the basics of what landlords need to know about violations issued by the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD). And while regular maintenance and solid management are your best defense against notices from the HPD (sometimes easier said than done), their inevitability is part of […]
The reality of being a landlord is that things can (and will) go wrong with properties you own — and you’ll have to assume responsibility for making them right again. While a broken ceiling tile can almost certainly wait till the weekend, other fixes require an immediate response. When those more serious concerns aren’t addressed […]
More than just being a nuisance, a heat wave can be harmful to your health. And with climate change causing rising temperatures, heat advisories during the summer are becoming the new normal. Here’s a heat advisory map for the U.S. Last week in New York, cooling centers—indoor, air-conditioned spaces for public use—opened up for use […]
It’s not just your imagination, summers really are getting hotter–especially if the current scorcher is any indication. Therefore, it’s more important than ever for you as a homeowner or seller to make sure your brownstone is equipped for record high temperatures if you want to attract high potential tenants. Here’s what you need to know […]
Your apartment’s roof deck can be a great place to make friends, impress neighbors, throw a great party, and maybe even meet that special someone. However, there are things to keep in mind so you don’t become “that guy” or “that lady” at your building—let alone get on the bad side of the building’s management. […]
Pollen counts are at their peak in NYC in April, May, and September. So even if you’re still feeling them now, we’re sorry to say that you only have a short reprieve before you get hit with them in in a few months. Of course, you can take over-the-counter medications to calm your symptoms or […]
The reality of being a landlord is that things can (and will) go wrong with properties you own — and you’ll have to assume responsibility for making them right again. While a broken ceiling tile can almost certainly wait till the weekend, other fixes require an immediate response. When those more serious concerns aren’t addressed […]
Dust is a serious health hazard. Long-term exposure to high levels of dust in your NYC home can trigger asthma, allergies, headaches, dizziness, nausea, or even make you snore. It can also make your appliances less functional, clogging up your air conditioner and damaging your air quality. Regular cleaning is the obvious solution to keeping […]
