For properties with three or more units, New York City law requires that building owners install and maintain window guards for apartments where a child age 10 years or younger lives. Every window in the apartment, except those leading to…
As a landlord, you have insurance to protect your building against a fire, theft or other peril. Should you insist that the people living in it also have insurance? Can you mandate that they buy renters’ policies? Yes. And yes…
Whether you need to insure a two-family brownstone in Park Slope, a warehouse in the Bronx, or an apartment building on the Upper East Side, insurance companies look at many of the same factors when insuring a rental property to…
New York City's mandatory composting requirement, which went into effect earlier this month, has received extensive news coverage. The city also offers additional programs to help residents recycle unwanted items, including e-waste and clothing. Owners of buildings with 10 or…
For many landlords, especially first-timers, the cost of insuring their building may seem mysterious. Why are landlord insurance costs so different from their homeowner’s policy? Why is the rate so different from the seemingly identical building next door? And, most…
Landlords in New York City have specific responsibilities for protecting tenants from lead paint hazards. Local Law 1 of 2004, also known as the Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Act, outlines these requirements, which apply to multiple dwelling units that were…
If you’ve ever purchased—or simply researched—property insurance, you’ve likely encountered the terms “contents” and “structures” coverage. In a nutshell, “structures” refers to the insured building and other structures, and “contents” refers to what’s inside. But this is insurance—no answer is…
Have you received a notice about force-placed insurance on your property? If so, you’re probably paying too much money for insufficient protection. This article explains what force-placed insurance is, why these policies are put in place, and how to protect…
Does the name on your insurance policy match the name on your property deed? While this may sound like a trick question, it’s a situation that we encounter from time to time. Property deeds change for several reasons. This article…
A large tree branch damages the roof. A leak on the top floor floods three units. A fire makes a unit uninhabitable. You compile a list of the damage, get repair estimates, and submit everything to your insurer. Will you…