Q: I stay in an Higher West Aspect co-op constructing with about 80 residences and a 24-hour doorman. In the course of the pandemic, our constructing restricted takeout meals deliveries, holding them on the entrance desk for residents to fetch themselves, fairly than letting the supply employees convey them to our doorways. Whereas different buildings have reversed related insurance policies, my constructing’s board has refused to revive door-to-door supply, solely saying some residents don’t just like the service. Loads of us need to get takeout meals delivered to our doorways in our pajamas once more. Does the board have the proper to completely revoke this service?
A: Few companies are extra treasured amongst New Yorkers than having dinner delivered to your condo door.
“It’s one of many perks of residing in a constructing with a doorman,” stated Debra J. Guzov, a Manhattan lawyer who represents co-ops and rental boards.
Most buildings revoked the service in the course of the pandemic to restrict outdoors guests. However by now, the bulk have restored it, stated Dan Wurtzel, the president of FirstService Residential New York, which manages about 600 residential buildings. Those that haven’t typically cite safety issues or staffing points. Some residents balk at the concept that supply individuals might wander the halls unattended.
Supply tradition has modified with the proliferation of on-line companies like DoorDash and Seamless, which changed in-house supply employees. “None of those eating places are utilizing their very own staff to ship” anymore, Mr. Wurtzel stated. “There was a rapport, however now it’s a unique individual” for each supply.
With that familiarity gone, administration may be reluctant to let simply anybody into the constructing. Instead, constructing workers might take the supply to your condo, however then one other staffer must cowl the entrance door.
If you’d like the service again, ask for it. Examine the home guidelines to see if any exist about deliveries. In case you discover one, name the managing agent and ask that or not it’s restored. In case you don’t, you and your neighbors ought to write the board asking for one to be enacted, or name the managing agent and ask somebody to talk with the board about discovering a technique to resolve the difficulty.
“Home guidelines are alleged to assist the pursuits of particular person shareholders, but in addition the group at giant within the constructing,” Ms. Guzov stated. “One might argue that it’s in the most effective curiosity of the constructing to assist this service.”
For weekly electronic mail updates on residential actual property information, enroll right here.
