Send us a text

You might not expect it, but your alteration agreement might be setting your building up for years of headaches and potential lawsuits. In this episode, Ingrid Manevitz, a partner in the law firm Seyfath Shaw, reveals how paperwork oversights can turn routine apartment renovations into costly legal nightmares that drag on indefinitely.

She explains the three most dangerous pitfalls that blindside even experienced boards: a never-ending renovation that lasts years because of one missing date; unauthorized work that proceeds without proper permits while everyone looks the other way; and the maintenance disasters that can fall through the cracks when apartments change hands. You'll learn exactly why violations end up hitting your building instead of negligent owners, and how poor record-keeping can leave you defensively scrambling to prove who's responsible for what.

Most importantly, get practical strategies for bulletproofing your alteration process, from mandatory check-ins with reviewing architects to creating ironclad electronic filing systems that survive management company changes. 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!