We are tenants in a condo for over a year now. When we signed the lease, our landlord told us the board restricted the use of the laundry room to the tenants. We were kind of okay with it. Then we moved in and the same management gave us access to the laundry-room as we noticed other tenants were using it.
Allow us to emphasize that we have never has any complaints of any sort since living in this building (no noise, littering, disturbance etc.).
Recently, the "management/ Board’s president “to be precise has decided to stop us from using the laundry-room over an honest mistake of overloading the machine once, then threated our landlord by saying if we were to continue, they would change the lock and charge him(the landlord) hundreds of dollars. Having a great relationship with my landlord we have stopped but now we are sending a complaint to the Attorney General for the following reasons:
First off, the Board’s president/ Management is imposing rules made by his own will based on his individual sentiments (not proven to be voted as condo rules suggest it).
Second, the rules are not applied to ALL TENANTS
Third, he has made prejudice comments referring to my look calling me “Black looking nanny” (Because of my hairstyle to say the least) and many more insulting and unacceptable comments directed to another tenant, which are very offensive and outrageous.
Forth, because of the Pandemic, as per STAY AT HOME rules imposed, why should we abide by unfair rules.
We believe in treating tenants equally and fairLY. One person may not abuse its power simply because he can. His actions should be corrected immediately.
Consider this complaint a discriminatory complaint and abuse of power above all.
Thank you in advance for your attention in revolving this issue.
Cordially,
Alima and Jerome Downey
I fear that if I can't sell it during this pandemic, then i will be delinquent in paying my maintenance because of financial hardship. I have a bad feeling that the Management is trying to regain possession of the unit. When the pandemic begins to taper, I will be able to market it....but by then I won't be able to pay the maintenance bill of the coop which is $1,029.00 a month. Why won't they put a temporary halt on this bylaw or rule. I don't know how I will weather this storm. My husband is in his 60's and going to work, worrying about getting the virus. I'm at home worried about my husband and afraid to go out.......I feel like I am being cornered by the Coop Board and Management company and now I have this extra stress.
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So, it's now over a year ago, that we were incorrectly charged an abatement tax in our coop, which my spouse lived in for over 35 years, and I moved in over 25 yrs ago. A quick recap (of what I posted months ago): We were married 8 yrs ago, and I was added to the lease in Jan 20I8, however in April of 2019, we were charged over $1700 for an abatement tax, because our residences was not our primary address. Ridiculous, and 100% incorrect, as we don't even have summer home or even travel! Management even sent out a form months before the abatement tax to correct any mistakes the NYC DOF may have had on file which we did, and turned it in within 24 hrs. I posted this horror show here at Habitat, and there were a few individuals were very helpful with suggestions, which I tried. Management claims they have been working on this case from the start, and originally said it would only take a few months to be credited. We've been calling them periodically, and all we get is it's the NYC DOF that is taking long, not us.
From suggestions here, I've contacted individuals from the NYS DOF who said they would look at my case, but I never heard from them again. This is after emailing a follow-up asking for any updates. I then went direct to the NYS DOF website and submitted the details there, in hopes someone can look into my case, but within 24 hours, I received a "case closed" reply, with this response:
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Although you completed the application to establish your primary residence with your managing agent, they must relay this information to Department of Finance by listing you/unit on a co-op/condo change form. Please provide a copy of the change form listing the added owner for the 2018/19 tax year.
Thank you for contacting the New York City Department of Finance.
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One of the board members from my coop and a good friend, mentioned that this has happened before, but NEVER took this long to resolve. With all that's going on with the Covid-19 situation, I don't know if now is the time to expect any progress, but nothing has changed even before this. Any further ideas or recommendations? It feels like the equivalent of being robbed (auto-pay didn't help), and if we are not persistent, we would simply lose what is owed to us. Thank you all again, and apologies for this repost.
Hi I own a coop on Long Island, NY and I sublet it. It's a 3 yr. sublet (rule made up by coop board) the sublet expires in August. I love my tenant but she has to move out so I can sell it, Board won't let her stay. I asked the board on behalf of my tenant to bend the rules during this coronavirus pandemic to extend her lease another year. It is difficult for her to find an apartment and difficult for me to sell with social distancing and realtors not being essentials. Board said they can't bend rules. How come Cuomo and Trump can bend rules but this Board won't. They are so heartless. My tenant is a wonderful tenant and they do love her ....but won't bend the rules. I want my tenant to feel she has a place to stay...and doesn't have to go and search for an apartment during this crucial time. Marketing an apartment virtually is insane. What can I do about Board? Who can I contact?
> Join the conversation Comments (2)I have simply question, Am I allowed as a co-op owner to put a camera (non-Audio One) in the hallway staircase (not facing my neighbors common area) due to me being harassed from my downstairs neighbor?
> Join the conversation Comments (1)What can the board do if it finds out that a resident has tested positive for Coronavirus? Can they tell the other residents that someone in the building tested positive? Does HIPAA or the NYC civil rights law prevent the Board from identifying the person?
> Join the conversation Comments (3)How would a possible rent moratorium, considered by Mayor DeBlasio, affect coops? We're a 40-unit, self-managed Brooklyn coop. Would Boards be asked to stop collecting maintenance and assessment as NYC institutes economic relief efforts in the COVID-19 crisis? What does Habitat advise coop boards around best practices with share holders facing financial hardship as more and more New Yorkers are out of work due to social distancing? Should we stop charging late fees now for late maintenance payments, in light of Gov Cuomo's moratorium on evictions? Does his NYS grace period for loan modification apply also to our coop's underlying mortgage (which we're due to refinance end 2020)?
> Join the conversation Comments (2)
I fully support the many new rules imposed on co-op building tenants, however, I feel they need to be fair. In my building, delivery persons who usually go from building to building with paper bags of food have been seen by the elevators for some tenants, and other times the food is left at the front lobby with the doorman. I do not order food ever, but particularly not now, as the person delivering the food likely has no health insurance and would also work sick, not wanting to lose money and yet not being able to afford health insurance.
I was an office worker now forced to work at home. I just moved in less then 2 months ago from a 1 bedroom to a studio. I am now working on a couch with 2 end tables pushed together with rubbermaid containers and boxes to place my monitors and mouse on. I have my seat cushion because I have ischial bursitis which is extremely painful. I realized after just a couple days, from the way that my pain was increasing and when that happens, it is difficult to get in back under control. I needed a proper (height and size as I do training from home and use two monitors), and of course a chair which I get in myself. My issue is while food is allowed to be brought directly in the front door, the building manager will not allow my desk, from a reputable company, Restoration Hardware, who uses a Manhattan delivery company with insurances drivers to deliver a desk. I plan on getting a prescription from both my Weill-Cornel Physiatrist and Pain Management physician and any other supporting documentation that I need a proper work station for a medical condition. The building manager will allow hospital beds but he never said who has made the decision the tenant needs that? It could make them decline in their daily ADL’s, basic functioning and ambulating even around their apartment IF they really do not need a hospital bed but want the controls or a special mattress. I am a healthcare worker who is working from home but taking care of patients who need resources. I assure they get transportation, food, necessary medicines from pharmacies who deliver and anything the homebound patient needs. I am an RN, BSN, MBA, Certified Case Manager who also may resultantly need to work in a hospital as the nursing shortage gets worse. And yet, right now I am at home and this pompous building manager (had been here 30+ years) has the nerve to allow unclean (some) food delivery workers into the front entrance where I pass them by as they are lined up on Saturday night, and other nights maintain a constant flow, but will not allow me to have a desk delivered. I am willing to have it left at the curb as where there is a will there is a way.
Can anyone tell me if a building manager needs to have some type of literature or back-up to their decisions of what tenants can and can’t do or have delivered? And if I take pictures of things being brought in through the front door and taken up in our elevators, will that help my case for delivery of one (1) item that will allow me to work more efficiently?
I understand new rules need to be implied, but I see quite a difference from what the 16th floor shareholders are held to abide by in comparison to the Penthouse tenants.
What can I do? I will get a prescription from my doctor for a desk so that I can maintain proper posture, but the manager already said no. He did tell me I could order from Amazon though and I have that in writing. I am 67 years old and would need to assemble it and it may not be in any lesser size than the 42 inch desk I ordered. PLEASE HELP
THANK YOU,
Regina Presa
201 E 66th St.
New York, NY 10065
Our management company has already approached us about locking in oil for the upcoming year since oil market down. Anything we should we wary of? A good plan for approaching? Such as wait until it goes down to "x" but if goes up to "y" lock in???? Is there a site where we can check the daily lock in rates being offered?
> Join the conversation
I'm investigating refinancing my coop with a different mortgage company than the one I now have. (All I want is to lower my interest rate which is now 4.375%). The new broker said I had to have the coop questionnaire filled out by the Management company, but mgmt. wants to charge me $150. to do that.
I'd like to know how common that is, how common that $150 fee is, and if there's any way around it.
Because my building is in poor shape, with many (expensive) violations, I'm not sure that I'll be able to refi anyway, so I fear I'll be throwing away that $150. without being able to recoop it later (with a lower rate).
Knowledgeable replies, rather than opinions, are greatly appreciated. Thanks!
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Hi Alima and Jerome - I am very sorry for the grief and discriminatory remarks you were subjected to by the condo board president. Have you brought these and your other complaints to the attention of your landlord, who I assume owns the condominium? If not, this is where you should start.
You have to realize that as the tenant of the actual owner of the condo you have very little influence over the actions and decisions of the condo's board. The issues you described need to be dealt with by your landlord. You have certain tenant's rights under the law, but you would need to consult with an attorney to understand what they are and how you would enforce and/or protect them.
Most important, I think you misunderstand the nature of this discussion group. It is comprised mainly of co-op and condo board members who answer questions and give advice to other board members based on knowledge and experience. You need to realize that there is no one on here who has any legal power or authority to resolve anything. The best we can do is offer suggestions, but they have no legal standing and are worth what you pay for them.
I'm mentioning this because in your message closing you thanked us for our attention in resolving the issues. We can't. Most of what you describe can only be resolved first by discussion with the board. If that doesn't work, you may have to go to court and you may have to hire an attorney. There's no one on here who can represent you or do any legal work on your behalf.
Good luck,
--- Steve
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