Alanna Schubach
Contributing writer
Contributing editor Alanna Schubach has over a decade of experience as a New York City-based freelance journalist. She has written about real estate for Brick Underground, Mansion Global, and Barron's. She has also contributed features, essays, and op-eds to The Nation, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Village Voice. She won a National Association of Real Estate Editors’ silver award in 2018 for her Ask an Expert column for Brick Underground. She is also a fiction writer and a creative writing teacher, and currently lives in Brooklyn.
Posts by Alanna Schubach:
Is a co-op board allowed to ask if I have children?
July 27, 2021 - 12:30 PM
A co-op board should avoid asking questions that could be perceived as running afoul of city, state and federal anti-discrimination laws.
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Ask Sam: What happens when the eviction ban ends?
July 21, 2021 - 12:30 PM
New York State’s eviction ban ends August 31st. There are rental assistance programs to help tenants who owe back rent avoid going to housing court.
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My neighbor's AC looks unsafe. What are the rules for installing a window air conditioner in NYC?
July 19, 2021 - 12:30 PM
"Local Law 11 requires window ACs in buildings six stories or more to be installed with a mounting support bracket on the exterior," says Michael Fasulo, a partner with Rodman Paul Architects. "Co-ops, condos, and rental managing agents also often have rules regarding supports, and these will vary by building."
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I was asked to pay a $500 'processing fee' for a rental application. Is this legal?
July 12, 2021 - 13:30 PM
The Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act (HSTPA), passed by the New York State legislature, caps application fees charged to renters at $20—to cover the cost of running a credit check on them.
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Ask Sam: What does 'preferential rent' mean for a stabilized apartment?
July 7, 2021 - 12:30 PM
The 2019 changes to the rent laws made preferential rents permanent for the length of a tenancy. If your landlord is hiking the rent and you suspect they aren’t following the new laws for preferential rent, you can file an improper lease renewal or rent overcharge complaint with the Division of Housing and Community Renewal (DHCR).
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The board won't interview potential buyers for my HDFC co-op. What can I do?
July 6, 2021 - 12:30 PM
HDFCs, or Housing Development Fund Corporation co-ops, receive specific tax breaks and subsidies that keep operating costs down, and units are sold to low- or middle-income buyers at a discount. HDFCs generally require that buyers demonstrate proof that their annual earnings are a certain percentage of the area median income in order to qualify.
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