Guzov, LLC

03/14/2023

Does a co-op Board have to restore pre-pandemic door-to-door food deliveries?

During the height of the pandemic, many co-ops required food deliveries to be held at the front desk and residents had to retrieve them, leading to the question of whether co-ops must now restore door-to-door deliveries. Speaking with The New York Times, Debra J. Guzov, Founder and Partner of Guzov, LLC, suggested that co-op boards do not necessarily have to restore such services to building residents.

Debra suggested that a review of the co-op’s house rules were in order to see if the service is covered to support an argument for restoration. She noted that house rules exist to support the interests of the “community at large in the building.” According to Debra, “One could argue that it is in the best interest of the building to support this service,” so it might be worthy of a house rule if one does not already exist.

To learn more about the rules surrounding door-to-door food deliveries in co-ops, read through Ronda Kaysen's article at The New York Times:

Delivery culture has changed with the pandemic and the proliferation of online services. Some buildings are hesitant to go back to the old days.

02/23/2023

The federal government has decided to impose new reporting requirements created under the federal Corporate Transparency Act. As a recent Forbes headline noted, they are the “biggest issue you’ve never heard of.”

The legislation would require most entities registered to do business in the United States to identify their beneficial owners—in other words, the person or persons who ultimately own or control the business.

Before the new rules take effect on Jan. 1, 2024, small businesses, partnerships, joint ventures, and other entities would be well advised to consult experienced counsel for a risk assessment and compliance review.

Guzov LLC’s attorneys have extensive experience assisting businesses with regulatory issues. If you need help gauging the potential impact of Corporate Transparency Act rules on your company, contact us for a consultation. View our latest blog to learn more: https://bit.ly/3kvcvXz

02/22/2023

Is it legal for New York City apartment dwellers to install video doorbell cameras?

New York City has no law prohibiting residents from installing doorbell cameras in apartment building hallways. However, speaking with The New York Times, Debra J. Guzov, Esq., Founder of Guzov, LLC, suggested the issue is more complex for co-op and condo residents.

"If you're living in a co-op, you can't just unilaterally do what you'd like to do in the common hallways," said Debra J. Guzov, a Manhattan lawyer who represents co-op and condo boards. "It's done with the permission of the board."

Debra also noted that some co-ops restrict how a camera is angled, whether anything can be recorded, and how long such material can be stored.

To learn more about the use of doorbell security cameras in NYC co-ops, read through Ronda Kaysen's article in The New York Times:

Ubiquitous in many suburban neighborhoods, the devices have been slow to catch on in city apartments, but that is changing as New Yorkers warm to the technology.

02/16/2023

New York City has made significant legislative changes directed at buildings within the community, with the ultimate goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by the end of the decade and reaching net-zero emissions by 2050.

Although almost 80 percent of those buildings are expected to meet the required criteria before Local Law 97 goes into effect, the city estimates that roughly 4,000 buildings could fall short. Failing to meet emissions targets can result in hefty fines for property owners.

In an article published by The New York Times, Paul Greenberg and Gernot Wagner explained that “Meeting the next goal, in 2030, may be a more formidable challenge. At this point, according to city data, 75 percent of the buildings that must meet emissions cuts by the end of this decade would fail to do so without retrofits. Additional cuts loom after that. Buildings will have to further reduce their emissions to meet goals for 2035, 2040, and 2050.”

To learn more about the new climate legislation that will be enacted in NYC, read through this article: https://nyti.ms/3jGK0WM. If you have concerns regarding emissions requirements, contact our experienced attorneys at Guzov, LLC, today, https://bit.ly/3XIz61k.

Cutting greenhouse gas emissions from big buildings will help the economy and make New York a nicer place to live.

02/14/2023

Transparency within New York City co-op boards could soon be mandated, following the introduction of new legislation that would require boards to disclose exactly why rejected buyers have been turned down.

As any individual who has considered an NYC co-op purchase already knows, the final stage of the process involves a board interview to secure acceptance. Not only can your application be rejected at any point in the ordeal, but the board is not required to provide an explanation of the rejection. If the new legislation were to pass, this secrecy would come to an end.

In an article published by Brick Underground, Emily Meyers writes: “If you've ever faced rejection, you can probably remember the sting of it. The whole point of these proposals is to ‘discourage co-op boards from turning people down,’ says Marc Luxemburg, president of the Council of New York Cooperatives and Condominiums.”

If you’d like to delve into the way this new legislation could impact co-op boards, read through the article here: https://bit.ly/3Yv8xx3. If you have questions or concerns regarding the matter, seek experienced counsel from Guzov, LLC today, https://bit.ly/3XIz61k.

Rejection is always a risk with co-ops.

02/10/2023

While New York City’s adoption of new greenhouse gas emissions laws has had a notable impact on building owners, co-ops, and condominiums, few have been as significant as Local Laws 84, 95, and 97.

Writing in Cooperator News, Jimmy Carchietta explains:

“A building with high emissions that fails to meet the limits set by the city risks huge fines, high energy bills, and poor optics at a time when sustainability and energy efficiency are priorities for many prospective residents. That can result in slower sales, and even reduced property values.”

Gain a better understanding of Local Laws 84, 95, and 97 by following this link//bit.ly/3RTp8Iu. If you have questions regarding emissions law compliance, contact Guzov, LLC today, https://bit.ly/3XIz61k.

Building owners - as well as co-op and condo boards - are facing the challenging task of complying with NYC’s array of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) laws, which are intended to measure, track, and report the energy efficiency of buildings over a certain size in order to reduce their environmental...

02/08/2023

A cooperative, condominium, or HOA community functions as a small-scale democracy governed by an elected group of individuals who live within its confines. But what happens to good governance when a lack of time or interest keeps those impacted by their decisions from actively participating in that democracy?

Writing in Cooperator News, Cooper Smith explains the role of proxy voting:

“Some residents split their time between multiple homes, or rent out their units as investment properties, or are simply too slammed between work and home life to be all that interested in—much less meet to vote on—their association’s administration. Enter the proxy, a written statement from an individual owner or shareholder authorizing a surrogate to vote on his or her behalf in an association election or referendum.”

Proxies allow owners to transfer their voting rights to another member - eliminating the time and energy required to attend meetings in person to cast a vote on critical issues pertaining to building management or to vote in the election at an annual meeting.

To learn more about the process of proxy voting, read through this article at Cooperator News: https://bit.ly/3jLz0ar. If you have questions regarding your condominium or cooperative board, reach out to Guzov, LLC today, https://bit.ly/3XIz61k.

If you live in a condominium, cooperative or HOA, you’re participating in a small-scale democracy run by an elected group of volunteers. As in any democracy, those affected by the board’s decisions are encouraged to get involved in the process of governance to look out for the best interests of ...

02/06/2023

While a potential gas stove ban has been a hot topic nationally in recent weeks, the matter has already been settled in New York City, which recently adopted CO2 limits that effectively prohibit the installation and use of gas appliances in certain circumstances.

What do these measures mean for co-op and condo boards across the five boroughs?

The legislation specifically targets new construction- meaning that the prohibition will have minimal impact on those who already own condominiums and cooperatives. However, the overall issue of electrification may not be so easily swept under the rug. Recently enacted NYC laws involving carbon emissions and maintenance of gas lines may force co-op and condo owners to implement capital improvements in order to avoid significant penalties.

In an effort to avoid negative legal ramifications stemming from these newly enacted laws, it’s necessary that condominium and cooperative boards seek experienced counsel sooner rather than later.

View our latest blog post to learn more about the recent gas stove debate and the ways in which it could impact condo and co-op boards: https://bit.ly/3l9pPku

02/02/2023

While New York State’s ongoing efforts to enact new energy and emissions policies are essential for reducing our carbon footprint, many commercial real estate owners are struggling to keep up.

“As commercial real estate continues the momentum of 2022’s ESG efforts, local legislation is likewise upping the ante. New York’s Local Law 97 is slated to go into effect in 2024,” an article published by the Commercial Observer recently noted. “This timeline, not to mention the pressing threats of climate change, has brought local policy to the forefront of CRE strategy, or at least discourse.”

It’s imperative that commercial real estate owners have a strong understanding of their communities’ carbon reduction policies. To learn more, check out the article from the Commercial Observer, written by Anna Staropoli: https://bit.ly/3HxGGoy. If you require guidance about how Local Law 97 will impact your properties, contact Guzov, LLC, https://bit.ly/3XIz61k.

A guide to the alphabet soup of building performance policies in cities like D.C., New York and Boston.

01/31/2023

New emissions laws set to take effect next year could mean big fines for New York City landlords. Are you prepared?

“Under the new rules, up to 3,700 properties could face total penalties exceeding $200 million a year, a study by engineering consulting firm Level Infrastructure showed,” Bloomberg News recently noted. “By 2030, up to 13,500 buildings could face fines totaling more than $900 million a year, according to the study, commissioned by the Real Estate Board of New York, an industry trade group.”

While climate advocates remain confident these new laws are necessary to reduce our carbon footprint, others insist the measures are far too harsh.

View the full article written by Natalie Wong and published by Bloomberg here: https://bloom.bg/3Y8RmRh. If you have questions about how the new laws will impact your properties, contact Guzov, LLC, https://bit.ly/3XIz61k.

A study commissioned by the Real Estate Board of New York shows thousands of properties will face higher costs under rules set to take effect next year.

01/27/2023

Close to 50 million homes in the United States are equipped with a gas stove, even though research increasingly suggests the popular home appliances are associated with both negative health and environmental impacts.

But while New York State is quietly moving to ban gas stoves, a recent article by BestLife suggests such actions will likely prove unpopular:

“News of a potential gas stove ban in New York has already created controversy. ‘This is plain stupid,’ a 70-year-old resident of Sea Gate, Brooklyn told The New York Post.” according to BestLife “‘We lost electricity before, during Hurricane Sandy. The only thing we had to heat up our food was gas. What if that happens again?’ But if New York does push forward with the ban, it wouldn't be the first state to do so.”

To learn what the future might hold for gas stoves, check out the article written by Kali Coleman and published by BestLife: https://yhoo.it/3WNJDaa If you have questions about how a ban on gas stoves will impact your real estate development projects, reach out to Guzov, LLC. https://bit.ly/3XIz61k

The U.S. is cooking with gas—literally. Research indicates that gas stoves are currently being used in more than 40 million homes around the country. But such widespread usage doesn't necessarily mean there is nothing to worry about.Recent research has raised concerns about the impact of gas stove...

01/26/2023

New lending guidelines instituted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac --stemming from the collapse of a high-rise condo building in Surfside, Fla --are impacting co-op and condo boards in New York City.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will no longer be purchasing loans for condo and co-op units in buildings that have significant deferred maintenance. Deferred maintenance refers to repairs that are required to ensure the safety and integrity of a building. Co-op and condo boards will have to be more vigilant about building maintenance and repairs so that purchasers will qualify for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.

See how the new deferred maintenance guidelines may impact your co-op or condo boards by reading through our latest blog post: https://bit.ly/3DejVVm

Contact Guzov, LLC today to learn more about how our skilled co-op and condo board attorneys can guide you through deferred maintenance issues.