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What's your building's policy on permitting staff to do "side jobs" for building residents, aside from prohibiting such activity on building time? Have you taken any specific steps so as to attempt to insulate the building from liability in the event a bad repair causes damage or injures someone?
We don't allow building staff to do side jobs for residents on their own time for plumbing, electrical, etc. unless they're licensed and insured. We also make residents sign a waiver saying if they use staff people for private work who aren't licensed and insured, they'll be responsible for any damage to other apts or the building as a result of the work, and, they won't hold the coop liable if private work by staff people doesn't meet their satisfaction, function properly, deliver the expected/promised result or for damage to anything in the resident's apt.
I am a Super/Resident Manager. As far as repairs go be very careful. building staff is always looking for a way to make a quick buck, and resident like this being that its cheaper then calling a mechanic.If the repair go bad you could personally be held liable for any damage, since your building insurance WON"T cover this.
My building is now trying to bill repairs to shareholders and keep our maintenance staff from doing work on the side, ie their lunch break etc. I'm asking my fellow board members to come up with a list of billable items, ie furniture moving, cleaning of balconies, etc. What can be billed vs what is customary for the building to just do for a shareholder, maybe unclogging a drain? There also appears to be no consistent scale for what is charged and who is charged. Any ideas??? Being new to the board I've been asked to see where we can improve.
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be very careful as this is a situation so easily abused. Here is what you do: residents have to fill out a slip requesting "private" work and the managing agent keeps a record of it. This way , nothing slips thourhg the cracks and you have full discolsure/ check with a lawyer on what to say on the slip so that the coop is not reponsible. . very important= make sure everyone knows the staff may not perform work that is over $200 (NY contractor law regarding being licensed - work must be under $200 if unlicensed ) and NO electric in the walls or plumbing in the walls. also residents requesting such work must have insurance.
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