Q: I’m a shareholder in a northern Manhattan co-op. New neighbors have moved in and so they smoke marijuana all day, beginning early within the morning. The scent could be very sturdy, permeates the hallways, and makes its means into my unit, which is down the corridor and across the nook. I do know they’ve a proper to smoke of their condominium, however the scent is troublesome to tolerate and I’m anxious about its impression on my skill to finally promote my shares. I’m considering I ought to write them a letter, asking them to ventilate their condominium and use an air filter. What ought to I do in the event that they don’t reply?
A: You may actually write a letter to your neighbors, asking them to raised ventilate their unit. However that may not clear up the issue.
Even when they comply with use an air air purifier or take different steps, odors can journey. It usually is dependent upon a constructing’s age, construction, and the way effectively its air-handling unit operates.
You may attempt to defend your condominium by including weatherstripping to your door and utilizing an under-door draft stopper, stated Mark Foley, president of the Folson Group, a enterprise marketing consultant for apartment and co-op buildings. You can additionally provide to put in this stuff to your neighbors’ door, he stated. Simply be certain your method is pleasant, whereas letting them know that their weed smoke is invading your condominium.
If none of this works, you’re effectively inside your rights to carry the problem to your managing agent and the co-op board, stated Debra Guzov, an actual property lawyer in Manhattan. Take a look at your proprietary lease, home guidelines and bylaws to see what they are saying about smoking and odors. Even co-ops with out smoking restrictions have nuisance clauses prohibiting circumstances that intrude with different shareholders’ quiet enjoyment of their houses.
As soon as you discover the best provision in your governing paperwork, search out neighbors with the identical issues and method the board collectively. You’ll need to keep away from litigation, which is time-consuming and costly, so push the board to comply with its personal guidelines.
“Co-op boards have a accountability to take care of the constructing in a means that protects shareholders’ investments, and permitting secondhand smoke to unfold unchecked might mirror poorly on the constructing’s administration,” Ms. Guzov stated. “Taking swift and decisive motion is so as.”
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