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Before he had even signed a contract, a would-be condo buyer asked one board for something unusual: a green light to bring multiple emotional support animals into the building. On this episode, attorney Daniel Finger, partner at Finger & Finger, shares how the board responded, what it deliberately held back, and why even the Human Rights Commission declined to weigh in. He unpacks how service animals and emotional support animals differ from ordinary pets, and why that distinction matters to everyone sharing a building. Along the way, he explores what happens when one resident’s needs collide with another’s allergies or fears. Habitat's Emily Myers 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!

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A longtime neighbor keeps leaving the stove on. There's no family to call, no one to knock on the door, and the board is losing sleep over what might happen next. Justin Buchel, partner at Schneider Buchel, describes this increasingly common situation, where compassion and liability pull in opposite directions. He unpacks how boards navigate these tense moments and why the answer is rarely as simple as walking through the door. You'll hear why some situations that feel urgent aren't, and what rules could protect you as a resident and as a neighbor. Habitat's Emily Myers 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!

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When a co-op board grew frustrated with a parking garage tenant overstepping its limits, a routine notice of default seemed like the obvious fix. Instead, it triggered a lawsuit and a costly lesson in New York's unforgiving procedural rules. Drew Pakett, partner at Braverman Greenspun, walks through what happens when commercial tenants push back against default notices, why "sweetheart leases" make tenants fight harder to stay put, and how a single missing paragraph can sink a board's case in court. Pakett breaks down the real purpose of a Yellowstone injunction and what boards should do before serving any default notice. Habitat's Emily Myers 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!