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Condo buildings in the Dumbo district of Brooklyn, New York City, USA on a sunny day
Boards
6 questions to ask before your board invests in new tech to run your building
Make sure to identify what your needs are before investing in new proptech to run your condo or co-op building. Here's what to ask.
Manhattan skyline
Approvals (purchases, alterations, refis, subletters, pets)
How should co-op and condo boards navigate seller-financed purchases?
How should co-op and condo board evaluate deals involving seller financing? Generally speaking, a buyer using seller financing would not be an issue a...
condo board brick underground
Boards
What’s the easiest way for an independent condo board to take control away from a developer?
While a sponsor controls the board, there's a potential for abuses of power, such as controlling funds they shouldn't or ignoring faulty construction....
State Capitol Building Statehouse Albany New York Lawn Landscaping stock photo
Boards
Hochul approves a replacement for the J-51 tax abatement that could help condo and co-op buildings fund upgrades
A handful of bills could help boost affordable housing development in the city, and aid condo and co-op buildings in funding repairs.
A laptop is open on a table to an online meeting.
Boards
Switching to hybrid annual meetings? Here are three steps to avoid common pitfalls
Co-op and condo boards should check their technology, internet access, and do a test run before holding a hybrid annual meeting.
A disembodied hand puts a ballot in a voting box.
House rules & bylaws
Need impartial eyes on your board election? Here’s how third-party oversight works
A third-party election overseer can run your NYC co-op or condo building's annual vote. Here's how it works.
Condo buildings in the Dumbo district of Brooklyn, New York City, USA on a sunny day
Boards
6 questions to ask before your board invests in new tech to run your building
Make sure to identify what your needs are before investing in new proptech to run your condo or co-op building. Here's what to ask.
Three brownstone buildings in Manhattan backed by larger apartment complexes.
Property Management
3 things to ask before you hire a live-in super for your building
Hiring a live-in super? Your board should check a prospective super's communication style and their technology and mechanical knowledge.
condo board brick underground
Boards
What’s the easiest way for an independent condo board to take control away from a developer?
While a sponsor controls the board, there's a potential for abuses of power, such as controlling funds they shouldn't or ignoring faulty construction....
State Capitol Building Statehouse Albany New York Lawn Landscaping stock photo
Boards
Hochul approves a replacement for the J-51 tax abatement that could help condo and co-op buildings fund upgrades
A handful of bills could help boost affordable housing development in the city, and aid condo and co-op buildings in funding repairs.
Residential Buildings with Fire Escapes along a Street in SoHo of New York City
Property Management
Brick webinar recap: How your board can create a realistic budget and manage costs
Brick's budget-planning webinar covered key concerns for NYC co-op and condo boards embarking on budget planning for 2024.
heat pumps in South Slope Brooklyn
Property Management
Heat pumps may be the solution to a host of problems, but can your building handle them?
Heat pumps seem like a logical solution for NYC condo and co-op owners who want to regulate their heat and switch to a more efficient energy source. H...
A row of colorful old brick apartment buildings surrounded by green trees during the summer in Harlem of New York City
Finance
NY apartment buildings could get up to $80,000 to come up with plans to prevent heat loss
The Heat Recovery Program offers New York buildings funds to evaluate heat waste or to design ways to better retain heat.
Hand fill out reverse mortgage loan application on a clipboard.
Finance
Does a shareholder need approval from their co-op board to get a reverse mortgage?
Residents should ask their co-op boards if they're looking to take out a reverse mortgage.
02 April 2019: Corner of W 23th Street and 10th Avenue, Manhattan, New York, USA.
Finance
Boards prepare to hike maintenance fees and common charges next year
Boards are preparing to raise maintenance fees and common charges again in 2024.
State Capitol Building Statehouse Albany New York Lawn Landscaping stock photo
Boards
Hochul approves a replacement for the J-51 tax abatement that could help condo and co-op buildings fund upgrades
A handful of bills could help boost affordable housing development in the city, and aid condo and co-op buildings in funding repairs.
Residential Buildings with Fire Escapes along a Street in SoHo of New York City
Property Management
Brick webinar recap: How your board can create a realistic budget and manage costs
Brick's budget-planning webinar covered key concerns for NYC co-op and condo boards embarking on budget planning for 2024.
New York City skyline
Finance
Does your board have questions about creating a budget for 2024? Sign up for our webinar
Brick Underground will co-host a webinar on creating a budget for 2024 at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 18th along with Super, a property management plat...
Residential Buildings with Fire Escapes along a Street in SoHo of New York City
Property Management
Brick webinar recap: How your board can create a realistic budget and manage costs
Brick's budget-planning webinar covered key concerns for NYC co-op and condo boards embarking on budget planning for 2024.
A row of colorful old brick residential buildings with fire escapes and colorful trees during autumn in the East Village of New York City
Insurance
3 ways to lower your condo or co-op building’s insurance costs
Here are ways NYC co-op and condo buildings can lower their insurance costs, or minimize an increase: 1) Make sure your contractors have insurance, 2)...
Four workmen in safety gear rig scaffolding in front of a Manhattan apartment building in 2022.
Legal
How owners and buildings can protect themselves from lawsuits over renovation accidents
Under New York Labor Law, known as the scaffold law, buildings can be held liable for certain types of worksite injuries even if they don’t directly s...
Businessman reading document contract papers with magnifying glass at office desk stock photo
Property Management
How to spot a fake certificate of insurance
Make sure to confirm the COI is legit by checking for formatting errors, spelling mistakes, impossible math, and by calling the insurance broker.
Bucket with mob in flooded basement or electrical room
Building Structure & Systems
When your building's basement flooding is caused by an underground river, here's what to do
If your building sits on an underground river, you likely experience flooding in the basement. Here are ways to deal with the overflow and to prevent ...
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Insurance
Can our board ban e-bikes because of the risks posed by lithium-ion batteries?
Lithium-ion batteries used to charge electric mini-vehicles have been linked to fires in NYC apartment buildings. A board can ban this equipment by am...
Manhattan apartment buildings
Legal
Financing options to help NYC buildings comply with Local Law 97 emissions limits (Part II)
Michael T. Carr and Adam R. Sanders, attorneys at Rosenberg & Estis, a top NYC real estate law firm, explain financing options to help NYC buildings c...
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Tall apartment building with air conditioning machine at almost every window in New York city during summer day.
Sustainability
Our building’s square footage may be too small to comply with Local Law 97. Should I get it remeasured?
You can get your building measured if you suspect it would be exempt from Local Law 97, which applies to most buildings with more than 25,000 gross sq...
A row of colorful old brick apartment buildings surrounded by green trees during the summer in Harlem of New York City
Finance
NY apartment buildings could get up to $80,000 to come up with plans to prevent heat loss
The Heat Recovery Program offers New York buildings funds to evaluate heat waste or to design ways to better retain heat.
Steam emitting from building rooftops during winter in New York City.
Legal
Changes to Local Law 97 fines debated at tense public hearing
Advocates, residents, owners, and legislators got into a hot debate about whether to limit some of Local Law 97's financial penalties on Tuesday.
Manhattan luxury condo buildings
Legal
Local Law 97 kicks off this January. Is your building on track? (Part I: Overview)
Local Law 97 is set to transform sustainability in New York City starting on January 1st, 2024. It mandates that buildings over 25,000 square feet red...
Sponsored By R&E Logo
heat pumps in South Slope Brooklyn
Property Management
Heat pumps may be the solution to a host of problems, but can your building handle them?
Heat pumps seem like a logical solution for NYC condo and co-op owners who want to regulate their heat and switch to a more efficient energy source. H...
heat pumps in South Slope Brooklyn
Property Management
Heat pumps may be the solution to a host of problems, but can your building handle them?
Heat pumps seem like a logical solution for NYC condo and co-op owners who want to regulate their heat and switch to a more efficient energy source. H...
6th Avenue AdobeStock_76055375.jpeg
Sustainability
Meet O&S Engineers & Architects
Over 25 years of expertise in parking, building envelope, and MEP/FP design and restoration.
Sponsored By O&S Associates & Architects logo
The roof garden at Via 57 West.
Roof
Secret gardens: The plants and insects that inhabit NYC's green roofs
There's a whole world of animals and plants you can spot on New York City's secret gardens: green roofs.
A roof garden on a Bronx apartment building
Roof
How to get a tax abatement to create an energy-saving green roof for your brownstone or apartment building
Qualifying buildings can save up to $200,000 off their property tax bill if they install a green roof that covers more than 50 percent of eligible roo...
radiator with thermostat
Heating
Are your NYC building's radiators too hot in winter? Steam balancing may be the solution
Steam balancing involves regulating the temperature in a heating system so all residents are comfortable, reduces energy use and emissions, and might ...
A drone flies toward a building for a facade inspection.
Building Structure & Systems
NYC changes course on drone use, a potential bonus for building facade inspections
New York City has proposed regulations to make unmanned aircrafts legal, paving the way for widespread use of drones in building facade inspections. 
Condo buildings in the Dumbo district of Brooklyn, New York City, USA on a sunny day
Boards
6 questions to ask before your board invests in new tech to run your building
Make sure to identify what your needs are before investing in new proptech to run your condo or co-op building. Here's what to ask.
modern laundry room
Building Structure & Systems
Looking to upgrade your NYC co-op or condo building's laundry room? Here are 6 ways to do that
Having a laundry room in your NYC co-op or condo building is still a valuable amenity—especially if you don't allow in-unit machines. If your building...
laundry room in basement
Property Management
Co-op and condo board intel: How to choose a new laundry room vendor
If you are a board that's looking for a new laundry room vendor for your NYC co-op or condo building, you'll want to read reviews, ask for references,...
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Community
Our co-op board is getting complaints about a video doorbell invading a shareholder's privacy. How should we respond?
Recording others when you are not a party to the conversation and in places where there’s an expectation of privacy—such as within one’s home—could be...
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Community
What to do when your NYC neighbors make lots of noise—Brick Underground's best advice
If you're struggling to stay sane over your NYC neighbor's noise, you are not alone. For more suggestions to specific neighbor noise scenarios, read o...
Apartment buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood of New York City
Boards
12 reasons why you should join your co-op or condo board if you can
Serving on your NYC co-op or condo board allows you to have a voice in what improvements are made in the building. Here's why you should consider bein...
Traveling Man Arriving with Suitcase to NYC Residence Enters Doorway
Approvals (purchases, alterations, refis, subletters, pets)
NYC's Prohibited Buildings List banning short-term rentals goes live
More than 100 applications were submitted in the first two hours that the portal for the Prohibited Buildings List was open, according to a spokespers...
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Community
How do we get a hoarder to clean up their apartment?
If there is a hoarder in your co-op building, the first step is to contact the shareholder and send a notice saying there have been complaints of odor...
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Community
Our co-op board is getting complaints about a video doorbell invading a shareholder's privacy. How should we respond?
Recording others when you are not a party to the conversation and in places where there’s an expectation of privacy—such as within one’s home—could be...
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Community
Can our board fine shareholders for making too much noise? If so, how much is appropriate?
“Depending on the house rules in your building—and the proprietary lease if it’s a co-op—your board may be within its rights to fine or take action ag...
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