Avoiding Condo Board Fines in NYC: What Every Association Needs to Know
HPM helps condo boards navigate complex New York City regulations to avoid costly penalties. From the importance of a third-party manager to staying compliant with Local Law 11 and understanding key differences between condo and co-op management, proper oversight matters.
When you think about condo board fines, you probably think about the penalties imposed on homeowners by the board itself. These can be assessed anytime a rule or regulation is violated or an owner falls out of compliance with bylaws or building policies.
However, condo boards themselves can also face fines. With ever-changing NYC real estate laws, it’s critical for board members to remain proactive. Understanding inspection schedules, filing deadlines, and compliance requirements is essential to avoiding costly mistakes.
Sharpen Your Legal Expertise to Prevent Condo Board Fines
To avoid condo board fines, someone on the board should become familiar with city and state laws or partner with legal counsel. Working with a property manager like HPM ensures access to legal experts and years of experience in keeping buildings compliant.
The New York State Bar Association and NYC Housing Preservation & Development offer resources to help understand evolving housing laws and board responsibilities.
Meet Building Safety Requirements
Buildings over six stories in NYC must be inspected every five years per Local Law 11. An unsafe classification can lead to fines if repairs aren’t made within 30 days. Even with a SWARMP (Safe With a Repair and Maintenance Program) designation, deferred repairs can cause fines later.
Learn more about requirements on the NYC Department of Buildings website.
Green Building Compliance and Climate Mobilization Act
New York City’s Climate Mobilization Act requires buildings to reduce emissions. Buildings that fall short of these standards could face annual fines. A property manager can guide energy audits and retrofits to help improve your building’s environmental performance.
Explore tools and strategies available through the NY State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA).
Stay Up to Date on Housing Regulations
The New York State Division of Housing and Community Renewal publishes vital guidelines and updates affecting residential buildings. Ensure that your board or management team is familiar with applicable rent and habitability regulations.
For federal guidance, consult the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Delegate to Property Management Professionals
Avoid condo board fines by outsourcing compliance to experienced professionals. At HPM, we help Upper Manhattan condos stay on top of inspections, paperwork, repairs, and legal requirements.
If you’re unsure about your building’s risk exposure, contact HPM for a consultation.
Get your Building to Net Zero
With the Green New Deal becoming law in New York City (otherwise known as the Climate Mobilization Act, approved in 2019), buildings are working hard to limit their waste and their carbon footprint. Audits that judge a building’s ability to move towards zero waste and greener systems will be coming. Most of the boards we’ve talked to understand that there will be fees and fines for buildings that have lower green grades, especially if they don’t make the recommended or required improvements within the prescribed time.
The worst part about facing fines is that you didn’t see them coming or you didn’t know you were doing something that kept you out of compliance with city and state laws. Don’t put your building, your homeowners, or yourself at risk for these costs. Contact us at Harlem Property Management, and we’ll protect you from risk.
Harlem Property Management is the authority on co-op and condo building management in Upper Manhattan and a member of the Real Estate Board of New York. We specialize in managing condos, co-ops, and multi-family buildings up to 99 units.
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