Virginia K. Smith

Lest you think New York State's war against Airbnb and short-term rentals is all talk, according to the New York Post, there are now full-on "raids" happening in NYC's illegal hotels. “They put their foot in the door and say, ‘Are you not granting entry to a police officer?’” one resident who's been charged thousands of dollars in fines said of the city task force that investigates quality-of-life issues like Airbnb. “They intimidate people into giving answers they want to hear.

If monkey lamps are your thing, Gilmore Girls is a great source of decorating inspo (Apartment Therapy)

For the on-the-go cat-lover, you can now give your pets the 'ol laser pointer run-around even when you're not actually home (The Daily Dot)

Disputes with the neighbors over flooding are a tale as old as time, but if you live in a building as tony as 200 11th Avenue in Chelsea, your run-of-the-mill burst pipe problem could wind up costing you nearly $50,000.

The newest Status Appliance to start coveting: LG's "fridge within a fridge" (Daily Mail)

Commuting by bike is risky in this weather; do it right (Gothamist)

No one wants to wind up in court with their landlord, and on this front, we have some good news: the number of Housing Court cases has fallen by 24 percent over the past six years, according to data gathered by the Real Deal, meaning that fewer building owners have been suing their tenants. However, rates of eviction have risen, meaning that if you do get taken to court, you're more likely to get booted from your apartment.