NYC Real Estate

Host Mark Levine of NYC Property Management firm EBMG hosts a quick solo show to bring listeners important updates for June 2023.

Email the show! [email protected] or call Mark directly at 212-335-2723 x.201.

Important updates include:

Feel free to also email Mark at his corporate email of [email protected].

Host Mark Levine of New York City property management company EBMG LLC sits in the studio with Deborah Koplovitz, a partner at Herrick, Feinstein LLP to discuss a package of proposed bills relating to cooperative apartment purchases, their applications and specific written reasons for a declined application. This proposed bill was sponsored by Public Advocate Jumaane Williams, among others.

Email the show at [email protected] or call Mark Levine directly at 212-335-2723 x.201

The proposed rules incorporate the following items for Boards to consider:

1. Time frames for processing applications by the Board or Managing Agent

2. Time frames for written decisions to the applicants once the interview has taken place

3. Disclosures on Finances by Boards

4. Keeping a comprehensive list of applications received, approved and denied for a period of three (3) years.

Deborah Koplovitz can be emailed at [email protected] or via phone at 212-592-1620

Host Mark Levine from NYC property management company EBMG sits down with Peter Hurley, an iconic photographer based in New York City. 

Email the show at [email protected]

On this 1st edition of the "Know Your Neighbor" podcast, we're peering into one of our buildings and interviewing a resident with an interesting story. Peter's experiences in life; from training for the Olympics in sailing to becoming one of the most notable photographers in the business (and social media) is interesting to hear first-hand and hard to beat.

Listen in and enjoy.

To email Mark Levine directly at his corporate email, you can do so at [email protected] or you can call at 212-335-2723 x.201.

Host Mark Levine of NYC Property Management firm EBMG gives a quick update on important topics in the real estate world, covering:

- Reverse Mortgages for Coops (recently allowed)

- Multiple Dwelling Registrations

- Bed Bugs Filings

- NYS Sexual Harassment Laws

- and more

Feel free to email Mark Levine's corporate email at [email protected] or via phone at 212-335-2723 x.201.

If you'd like to connect to the show, email [email protected].

Host Mark Levine of NYC Property Management company EBMG sits down in the zoom studio to talk with Josh Thompson, owner of Thompson Window Services. 

Email the show! [email protected]

Topics discussed on today's show include window washing, facade inspections (FISP), mandated garage inspections, drone inspections and more.

Josh can be reached at 732-997-8138 and through his website, thompson.nyc

Want to reach Mark directly, email him at [email protected] or call him directly at 212-335-2723 x.201.

Host Mark Levine from NYC Property Management firm EBMG sits with Julie Schechter, Esq., a frequent guest and partner at law firm Armstrong Teasdale to go over the fundamental differences between cooperative and condominium buildings.

Email the show! [email protected] or call 212-335-2723 x.201

Email Julie Schechter at [email protected]

Topics discussed on this episode include:

- when buying into each building, what are you buying?

- what is an Offering Plan?

- what is the Proprietary Lease?

- What are bylaws?

- Right of First Refusal (condo)

- Reasons to decline a buyer (coop)

- Underlying Mortgages / Tax Deduction Letters

- Board limitations

- Arrears Collections Procedures

- and more.

Host Mark Levine of NYC Property Management firm EBMG sits with Joe DiPompeo, PE of Structural Workshop and Scott Baryiewski of South Shore Construction to discuss the new Local Law 126 of 2021 imposed by NYC DOB, relating to regular parking lot inspections in the five boroughs.

Email the show! [email protected] or 212-335-2723 x.201

**New Law** Beginning January 1, 2022, Local Law 126 of 2021 (Intro No. 2261-A) requires owners of parking structures to hire a NYS licensed and registered professional engineer to inspect the structure at least once every six years and file a report with the Department of Buildings documenting the results of the inspection that include:

• buildings, or portions of a building, used for parking or storing motor vehicles, including space inside or under a building

• open parking garages and enclosed parking garages as defined in the NYC Building Code.

Exceptions

The following structures will not be required to comply with the new inspection requirements:

• autobody and automotive repair shops, automotive showrooms, and automotive service stations

• garages with occupancy of fewer than three cars

• unenclosed, unattached outdoor parking lots

• private garages serving one- and two-family homes.

Email the experts!

Joe DiPompeo, [email protected]

Scott Baryiewski, [email protected]

Host Mark Levine of Property Management firm EBMG talks about the tragic fire over the last weekend that killed at least 19 residents along with requirements from ownership's perspective to give out Fire Safety information, signage and more, to reduce the risk of an occurrence like this from happening again. 

Email the show! [email protected] or call Mark directly at 212-335-2723 x.201

On this episode, Mark goes over:

- Emergency Preparedness Guides, https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/fdny/downloads/pdf/codes/nyc-apartment-building-emergency-guide.pdf 

- Space Heater Best Practices, https://nyfiresafe.com/app/uploads/2022/01/Space-Heaters-Safety-Precautions.pdf

- Fire Safety Plan - Part 1, http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/rcny/rcny_form_fire_safety_plan_bldg_info_section.pdf 

- Fire Safety Plan - Part 2, http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/rcny/rcny_fire_safety_plan_2_emerg_info_sect.pdf 

- Heating Requirements in NYC: The Department of Housing Preservation and Development today announces the start of New York City’s “heat season,” during which all residential building owners are required to maintain indoor temperatures at 68 degrees when outdoor temperatures fall below 55 degrees during the day. Indoor temperatures must also be a minimum of 62 degrees overnight, regardless of outdoor temperatures. Building owners are legally required to provide hot water at 120 degrees year-round.

- Close the Door Notice: https://nyfiresafe.com/app/uploads/2022/01/Close-Door-Notice.pdf

- Combustible Building Fire Notice, https://www1.nyc.gov/assets/fdny/downloads/pdf/codes/combustible-non-fireproof-building.pdf

- Non-Combustible Building Fire Notice, http://www.nyc.gov/html/fdny/pdf/rcny/rcny_form_fire_safety_notice_non_combustible.pdf 

- Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

- and more.

Host Mark Levine of NYC Property Management firm EBMG gives a quick walkthrough of the J-51 program's extension through June 30, 2022. Mark also includes timing protocols for filing, restrictions based on assessed value and the type of work that can be considered for the J-51 program.

Email the show! [email protected] or call Mark Levine directly at 212-335-2723 x.201.

Host Mark Levine of EBMG LLC goes over some of the more pressing issues at the end of 2021 and beginning of 2022.

Email the show! [email protected] or call Mark Levine directly at 212-335-2723 x.201.

NYC Bed Bugs Filings: Due 12/31/21

Local Law 152 of 2016 Gas Inspections: 6 Month Extensions Permitted for 2021

FISP / Local Law 11: Subcycle C begins on 2/21/22 and Subcycle A is DUE on 2/21/22.

Vaccinations for all Building Employees: Required by law as of 12/27/21.

The following provisions of the Housing Stability Tenant Protection Act no longer apply to cooperatives:

The provision limiting security deposits and advances to one month’s rent. This has been a serious impediment, as before HSTPA, cooperative boards often conditioned consent for a purchaser with insufficient or marginal finances upon the posting of a significant maintenance escrow. Cooperative boards may now use maintenance escrows again, without a limitation on the amount held in escrow. See GOL 7-108.

The requirement for the landlord to give notice if a lease renewal is not offered to a tenant, or if a renewal is offered at an increase of rent equal to or greater than 5%. Cooperatives must comply with the provisions of their governing documents or any other laws on this point. See RPL 226-c.

The prohibition of fees at the beginning of a tenancy, except for a credit or background check reimbursement of no more than $20. A cooperative’s transfer agent or management company may now charge fees for processing an application, and they are now entitled to full reimbursement of the cost of a credit check, regardless of the amount. A comment in the Governor’s signing memo makes reference to the fees being reasonable and “approved by a supervising agency.” These comments are not yet part of the law, and we are not certain how that second requirement will be considered going forward. See RPL 238-a.

The limitation of payments, fees or charges for the late payment of rent to $50 or 5%, whichever is less. The proprietary lease or occupancy agreement often provides for interest and/or late fees, and these may now be collected once again, though the total amount of “any payment, fee or charge for the late payment of rent” is limited to EIGHT (8%) PERCENT of the monthly maintenance if the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement permits. See RPL 238-a.

The provision that only rent (as narrowly defined by HSTPA) may be sought in a summary proceeding. A cooperative may now again seek eviction of a tenant shareholder for nonpayment of both “rent” and any fees, charges, penalties or assessments due under the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement in a summary proceeding. See RPAPL 702.

The requirement that an additional five-day notice be sent by certified mail if maintenance is not timely received. This provision does not relieve a cooperative of the additional five-day notice that HSTPA mandates, but does allow the notice to be given in the manner required by the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement rather than by certified mail. Since most proprietary leases require notices to be given by certified or registered mail, this change may be of little impact. See RPL 235-e.

The provision prohibiting the collection of attorneys’ fees when there is a default judgment in a summary eviction proceeding. If there is a provision in the proprietary lease or occupancy agreement that permits the recovery of attorneys’ fees, it is now possible to recover the fees even if the tenant shareholder defaults. See RPL 234.

Happy New Year!!!