Send us a text

Co-op and condo boards often move too quickly when hiring contractors, which can lead to problems later on. Contractor-written proposals can lack board protections like indemnification and the ability to recover attorney's fees. Signing these inadequate contracts can leave a board trapped with a contractor doing subpar work — or just not showing up. In this episode, J. David Eldridge, partner at Taylor Eldridge & Endres, walks through how this can happen, and what it could cost your building to escape. He reveals the warning signs boards miss and why even routine renewals deserve careful scrutiny. If you've ever wondered whether spending money on legal review is worth it, Eldridge’s real-world examples make the case crystal clear. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

Send us a text

A condo board let an arrears situation drag on for years, convinced they had no chance of recovering delinquent common charges against an owner with massive tax and mortgage debts. They were wrong. Eric Goldberg, partner at Kahn & Goldberg, reveals how a stroke of luck involving a 60-day window between the board and the IRS filing liens completely changed their outcome. Goldberg shares the details. Condo foreclosures are high-stakes — and timing can mean the difference between recovering everything and losing it all. Habitat’s Paula Chin conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!

Send us a text

When buildings need to place scaffolding on a neighbor's roof or temporarily close off a courtyard, some owners see dollar signs, while others face project-killing delays. As a result, the space between New York City buildings has become a surprisingly lucrative battleground. Dani Schwartz, partner at Offit Kurman, explains why neighboring access disputes have exploded over the past 15 years, and reveals the high-stakes negotiations happening right above your head. Schwartz walks through the delicate process of these negotiations, from the initial letter that can make or break a relationship to the courtroom showdowns that follow when talks collapse. With real examples ranging from modest rooftop access to a swimming pool standoff, this conversation exposes the hidden tensions built into New York's densely packed real estate and the creative strategies that sometimes prevent all-out war. Habitat's Paula Chin conducts the interview.

The business of running a building is demanding work that requires making endless decisions — some that can quickly lead your board into a quagmire of legal difficulties. Legal Talk interviews New York's leading co-op/condo attorneys to find solutions, and get some guidance, on these challenges. For more co-op and condo insights, sign up to receive Habitat's free newsletters or become a Habitat subscriber today!