A cooperative’s board of trustees could refuse to approve a lease renewal because the tenants smoked a lot, a New York judge has ruled. The co-op board had the right to approve or disapprove leases in the building, although it couldn’t do so “unreasonably.” In this case, the tenants lived in the building for a year and wanted to renew. During the year, the board sent two letters to the tenants complaining about the “tremendous amount

A big storm comes up and knocks down a tree in Bob’s yard. It falls over the property line and damages his neighbor Janet’s car. Is he legally liable for the damage? As with much in the law, it depends. Generally, though, Bob would be responsible if he knew the tree was in danger of causing damage to Janet’s property, or if a reasonable person in his position would have noticed the danger. For instance, Bob

Hiring an architect to design a home, a commercial building, or a new addition can be very exciting. But there can be some traps for the unwary in the fine print of the contract, and you’ll want to have an attorney look it over in order to protect your rights. Here’s just one example: Who owns the architect’s drawings and plans? You might assume that you do, since you’re paying for them. But one of the

Many landlords – both residential and commercial – have been trying to set themselves apart and attract more tenants by allowing pets. It’s true that pets can cause damage to a building, but it’s also true that there’s a growing demand for pet-friendly environments, and allowing pets can make a rental property much more attractive. Some 17 percent of businesses across the U.S. now allow pets at work, according to one recent survey. Most of these

With the real estate market still in the doldrums, a lot of people are thinking that this is a good opportunity to buy a brand new condominium, rather than one in an older community. New construction has a lot of advantages – but it can also be more complicated, and there are some potential trouble spots as well. You should definitely speak with your real estate attorney before you sign anything in order to make sure