Insuring apartment buildings and condominium and co-op buildings can be complicated. Understanding where the responsibilities lie between owners and tenants—as well as what insurance you can and should require from tenants—can be equally complex. And if you sit on the…
New York City building owners with outside fire escapes have two choices regarding these external means of egress: keep them maintained or remove them. Fire escapes are a classic feature of New York City architecture, romanticized in books, plays and…
New York City requires landlords of multiple dwellings (3+ residential units) to file an Annual Bed Bug Report that discloses any bed bug infestations on the property in the previous year. In addition, property owners and building managers must attempt…
As a landlord or building owner, do you need commercial auto insurance? You probably drive your personal vehicle for business. Or you use your car for personal use most of the time, but occasionally hitch it to a trailer to…
Space heaters can warm up a chilly room. They can save energy by allowing you to turn down your thermostat and only heat a small area. Unfortunately, they can also lead to tragedy. The Bronx fire that killed 17 people…
If you live in a property with a private homeowners' association (HOA), like many condominium and co-operative buildings in the New York City area, homeowner association fraud is a real possibility. And chances are it could be months, or even…
After the recent (and preventable) Equifax breach, Yahoo's follow-up announcement that the August 2013 attack affected all 3 billion of its users at the time—rather than the initially reported 1 billion—scarcely made a ripple in the media. These examples reinforce…
For owners of mixed-use buildings here in the New York City market, finding the right commercial tenant is getting even harder. As reported earlier this year in "What's Happening with New York City Building Insurance," a number of insurance companies…
Do you own a mixed-use building in New York City? If so, you're probably aware of the many challenges involved with making sure your commercial tenants have the correct insurance. Even if you're not, don't worry. We have a handy…
When shopping for building insurance or brownstone insurance in New York City, burglar bars can stop the insurance process. For new owners, these decorative and functional bars can also delay the closing process. The reason is simple: it's a matter…