In a recent New York Times “Ask Real Estate” column, Braverman Greenspun principal Scott Greenspun shared his thoughts on a volatile situation at a Queens co-op, where two residents became physically confrontational, resulting in arrests and criminal charges.
Scott explained that a co-op board’s authority in such disputes is rooted in its governing documents – namely, the proprietary lease, bylaws, and house rules. If a shareholder’s behavior violates these terms, particularly through “objectionable conduct,” the board may have grounds to intervene, including issuing warnings or initiating eviction proceedings.
While boards are not investigative bodies, Scott emphasized that they have a responsibility to uphold the rights of all shareholders and maintain a peaceful living environment. In the absence of clear-cut evidence, the board’s best course may be documenting incidents, issuing conduct letters, and monitoring for further violations that could justify more serious action.
Read the full New York Times column here and an article Habitat published on the column here.