Troubleshooting

Tell me more: Sponsor sweetheart deals targeted by new disclosure law

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By Teri Karush Rogers  |
September 1, 2010 - 2:17PM
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In a flurry of bill-signing this week, Governor Paterson enacted several disclosure laws related to real estate:  Landlords now have to tell potential renters about bed bug infestations, real estate agents have to confess divided loyalties to their clients in writing—and now co-op and condo sponsors have to alert residents about their right to cancel “sweetheart contracts” within two years after the sponsor loses control of the board.

“[O]ften the time to void the contracts expires before members of a condo or co-op board know they have this right,” says a press release issued by one of the bill’s sponsors, New York State Assemblymember Brian Kavanagh.

The new law, effective in 30 days, forces sponsors to issue written reminders of cancellation rights at the beginning and end of the two-year cancellation period.

“Let’s say there’s a garage primarily serving residents only and the sponsor gives itself a 50 year lease for $1,000 a month and then operates the garage himself,” says Manhattan real estate lawyer Steven Wagner of Wagner Berkow.   “The act of signing the lease on behalf of the co-op or condo and on behalf of himself for below-market rent is self-dealing and can be terminated.”

Related posts:

Building a war chest to fight a sponsor

4 neat ways to use an investigative lawyer in a co-op or condo

Fed up condo owners flock to Midtown war room 

Coming soon to a co-op/condo near you: Transparency and fair play?

Approval, schmoovel! Renovation perks for board members

 

 

 

Teri Rogers Headshot - Floral

Teri Karush Rogers

Founder & Publisher

Founder and publisher Teri Karush Rogers launched Brick Underground in 2009. As a freelance journalist, she had previously covered New York City real estate for The New York Times. Teri has been featured as an expert on New York City residential real estate by The New York Times, New York Daily News, amNew York, NBC Nightly News, The Real Deal, Business Insider, the Huffington Post, and NY1 News, among others. Teri earned a BA in journalism and a law degree from New York University.

Brick Underground articles occasionally include the expertise of, or information about, advertising partners when relevant to the story. We will never promote an advertiser's product without making the relationship clear to our readers.

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