Send us Fan Mail

What would happen if your co-op's proprietary lease didn't actually give your board the powers you've always assumed it had? That's not a hypothetical — it's exactly what happened to one New York co-op. Tracy Peterson, a principal at Braverman Greenspun, takes Carol Ott through a case where digging into a co-op's proprietary lease revealed a provision so unexpected that it had escaped notice — by attorneys, managing agents, and board members alike — for more than 40 years. She breaks down what the board found, how they handled the fallout, and what every board member should take away: read your governing documents, because the surprises are in there. Habitat's Carol Ott 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 Fan Mail

When a newly married couple applied to a Riverdale co-op with an emotional support animal request, their board faced a situation that most no-pet buildings aren't prepared for — and the fallout landed them before the Human Rights Commission. Eric Goidel, senior partner at Borah Goldstein Altschuler Nahins & Goidel, walks through the case step by step, explaining the unconventional strategy he recommended and why it matters for any board navigating ESA requests. The lesson here isn't just about pets — it's about documentation, process, and knowing where the real legal exposure lives before a complaint ever gets filed. Habitat's Carol Ott 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 Fan Mail

Dealing with a neighbor who stops paying maintenance is one of the most stressful situations a co-op building can face — and most people assume the only fix is a slow, expensive slog through housing court. Attorney Moshe Bobker, partner at Tane Waterman & Wurtzel, explains a little-known legal tool that's been quietly changing the way co-ops handle defaulting shareholders. It's faster, cheaper, and in many cases far more effective than anything a courtroom can offer. Bobker draws on real cases to explain how this strategy shifts the pressure in ways that get people to the table quickly — and why it's been gaining serious traction since the COVID era exposed just how broken the traditional process really is. Habitat's Emily Myers 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!