Feature

How to Negotiate a Wireless Company's Rooftop Lease

March 18, 2009    

In these challenging economic times, owners are stretched to think of new ways to generate revenue. Installing storage lockers for rental and providing advertising space are two ways to boost revenue, but the proliferation of cell phones, broadband, paging, wireless Web, and related technologies...

File Proper Forms, Avoid Missteps When Rerenting Decontrolled Apartment

February 1, 2009    

When a rent-controlled tenant dies leaving behind no legal successors, voluntarily moves out, or is lawfully evicted, his apartment automatically becomes “vacancy decontrolled.” When any of these situations occur, it is important to file all the necessary forms with the Division of...

Prevent Former Super from Becoming Rent-Stabilized Tenant

November 29, 2008    

If you are not careful when you hire a super who will live in a rent-stabilized apartment in your building, the super could maintain rights as a rent-stabilized tenant when he later quits or is fired from his job.

By law, the building superintendent is an employee of the owner. But the...

How to Comply with NYS Workers' Comp Law

October 29, 2008    

As an owner, you are required by federal and state laws to provide a reasonably safe workplace for your employees. Unfortunately, even if you provide proper equipment to your employees and implement safety policies, accidents still occur. To protect your building staff—and yourself, as an...

How to Protect Yourself When Emergency Access Needed

September 16, 2008    

Occasionally, you may need to enter a tenant's apartment to inspect for defects or to perform maintenance tasks. However, there may be some instances when you may need immediate access to an apartment for emergency repairs. A common dispute between owners and tenants involves the conflict...

Seven Tips to Avoid Legal Trouble with Employees

September 9, 2008    

All owners will have to deal with a problem employee at some point, no matter how carefully they hire employees or how diligently they try to create a good work environment. For many owners, deciding whether and how to discipline or fire an employee is one of the most stressful parts of the job...

Five Ways to Shrink Your Building's Legal Costs

July 21, 2008    

From time to time, every owner must hire an attorney to represent it in a lawsuit. With the rising costs of attorneys and experts, it is important to take steps to reduce or limit legal fees. Expensive litigation may have spillover effects on your building's value, and lengthy lawsuits may...