How can you make changes to your building policies?

For cooperative buildings you would need a simple lease amendment.  This will require an affirmative vote of the shareholders.  Shareholders are usually open to amendments that improve the quality of life in the building so this should not be too high a hurdle.

In the case of condominiums, the bylaws need to be reviewed to detemine whether the Board of Managers is authorized to make changes in building policies, particularly if there are punitive measures involved.

In either case, make sure you check all governing documents.  Sometime a super majority is required.  To be sure, always consult counsel before any action is taken.

Stay tuned for a new topic on Jack Lepper’s New You Can Use.

Last time we talked about enforcing building policies and house rules (noise levels, pet ownership, etc.).  Short of extreme legal remedies, there seems little can be done to solve this common problem.

Not true!  A simple amendment to the proprietary lease for coops, or to bylaws for condominiums, can solve this problem.  The amendment can outline punitive fees to be applied for specific violations.  And it can cover other penalties beyond fees: loss of parking privileges, refusal to accept packages, freezing health club memberships, etc.  By marrying the appropriate penalty with a specific violation, you can get control over the enforcement of policies and rules and improve the quality of life in your building.

How can this be done?  Stay tuned for Part 3 of our series on Jack Lepper’s News You Can Use on JackLepper.com

Building policies and house rules and the like are areas of contention that can greatly impact the quality of life in your  building.  Typically, these rules govern everything from noise levels to pet ownership to subleasing agreements and parking issues. And rules do get broken.  Frequently.

What can be done?  Unfortunately, many of the legal remedies don’t fit the crime.  Most are extreme and not appropriate for every situation.  You are not going to start eviction proceedings because of loud music.  Is there an easier way.  Stay tuned for more at jacklepper.com