Dear Fellow Residents, We've created the shareholders', tenants' and sublessees' section of NaBors Apartments' website just for you.
Here you will find practically everything you need to know to live and thrive in our co-op. If you don't find the information you're looking for, please send us your question, and we'll do our best to answer it.
The Co-op Handbook compiles answers to the most common questions residents and/or shareholders might have about living in NaBors Apartments.
This handbook was created to make it easy for you to find answers to the most common questions you might have as a resident of NaBors Apartments (also known as Nagle Apartments Corporation). This information was compiled from the Proprietary Lease, including the House Rules; from the minutes of Board of Directors meetings over the years, whenever there have been new co-op policies or policy changes; from the procedures followed by our managing agent; and from New York City and New York State laws pertaining to residential cooperative buildings.
This handbook mentions many of the legal rights and responsibilities of our co-op, its shareholders, and its sublessees and renters, which are governed by the terms of the Proprietary Lease and by city and state laws. However, the handbook is not exhaustive, and it is therefore not intended to replace those rights and responsibilities.
Instead, the handbook is offered as a collection of guidelines that will help preserve a degree of excellence in our residents' lifestyles and ensure that our co-op is run in an efficient and effective manner.
If you have any comments or suggestions, send them to the .
Below is a handy list that you can use to find out, at a glance, whom you may contact for a variety of services. For more details on the division of responsibility regarding services, read the relevant sections in this handbook.
Alterations and renovations: apartment remodeling or construction must be arranged with the Managing Agent, 718-549-7036. Fax: 718-549-7076.
Bathroom maintenance: leaks, clogged drains, small grouting jobs – Superintendent, 212-569-2661
Complaints about neighbors, employees of the co-op, or employees of the garage – Managing Agent
Complaints about the managing agent – Board of Directors
Elevator problems: especially if someone is trapped inside – (1) Super 212-569-2661 or 917-802-2369 (beeper), (2) Managing Agent 718-549-7036, (3) Century Elevator Company 718-937-6200
Emergencies:
(1) Building emergencies: floods, gas odors, elevator breakdown with passenger inside, etc. – Super
(2) Life-threatening emergencies: fire, smoke, medical emergency – 911 first, then the Super
Gas odors – Super
Garbage disposal: for assistance disposing of furniture, appliances, and large quantities of garbage – Super
Grounds maintenance – Super
Hallways and stairs: dirty hallways, burned lights – Super
Installing major appliances: air conditioners, stoves, or appliances that involve gas pipes, plumbing fixtures, or electrical rewiring – Managing Agent
Keys: extra or replacement keys – Super
Laundry facilities: malfunctioning or broken machines, refunds, dirty room – Service Directions, 1-800-945-WASH (9274)
Maintenance and rent payments: difficulties paying on time, payment arrangements – Managing Agent
Moving in or out – Managing Agent
No hot water, no heat – Super
Noise and other disturbances:
(1) Disturbances that are likely to be short lived (loud party, fight in the hallway) or disturbances outside the co-op – 34th Precinct, 212-927-9711
(2) Ongoing problems with noisy neighbors in the co-op – Managing Agent
Refinancing and home equity loans – Transfer Agent
Repairs and maintenance: common areas, building systems, radiators, plumbing lines in walls, no hot water – Super
Subletting or selling your apartment – Transfer Agent
Our management company is Blue Woods Management Group. Any nonemergency requests, complaints, etc., you have relating to the management of the co-op or relations with your neighbors should be addressed to the managing agent:
Mr. Justin Verret, Managing Agent
Blue Woods Management Group
5701 Arlington Avenue
Riverdale, NY 10471
Tel: 718-549-7036
Fax: 718-549-7076
EM:
If your requests relate to groundskeeping or the maintenance of common areas, or if it is an emergency such as a flood or a fire, please address them to the superintendent instead (see Superintendent and Porter for more details).
Emergency requests should be addressed to the superintendent (see Emergencies). In case of emergency after business hours or on weekends, and you are unable to get hold of the superintendent, call Blue Woods' 24-hour emergency line, 718-549-7036, and they will locate someone to help.
Our co-op has two full-time employees: our superintendent Shahabudeen Hyatt and our porter Shamzad Hyatt. If you have any requests or complaints relating to groundskeeping or the maintenance of our co-op's common areas or our co-op's property (such as windows, entrance doors, elevators), please call Shahabudeen at 212-569-2661, or submit a written work request via the communication box located in the lobby of your building. Please call them only during their working hours, unless there is an emergency (see Emergencies).
You are also required to make arrangements with Shahabudeen if you are planning to move into or out of your apartment, have furniture delivered, dispose of large quantities of garbage, or perform any other act that has the potential to affect the corporation's property or create a nuisance or problem for your neighbors. Failure to make arrangements with Shahabudeen in situations such as these constitutes a serious violation of the Proprietary Lease.
Shahabudeen can also provide you with replacement entrance, elevator, and mailbox keys (see Keys to Entrances, Elevators, and Mailboxes for more details) and he keeps copies of all your apartment's keys in a safe, locked key box for your convenience and in the event of emergencies (see Access to Apartments).
The transfer agent handles all sublet, refinance and resale questions and requests. When you start planning any of these actions, please contact the transfer agent to find out how to go about it and obtain all required forms and instructions.
Ms. Arlene Marin, Transfer Agent
Blue Woods Management Group, Inc.
307 Seventh Avenue
Suite 603
New York, NY 10001
Tel: 212-645-7333
EM:
Like most business corporations, our co-op relies on a Board of Directors to oversee operations and make decisions for the benefit of all shareholders. The Board keeps track of regular expenses, prioritizes extraordinary expenses, and hires contractors to maintain the building or make capital improvements.
However, the board is not only responsible for the corporation's finances, but also for the quality of life in our buildings. It interviews and approves or rejects prospective shareholders and sublessees, formulates and enforces rules and regulations and other policies, and decides whether to install new amenities that will improve our residents' quality of life.
The Board meets once a month to analyze operations during the preceding month and to discuss and make policy decisions. All shareholders are welcome to attend the open sessions of the monthly Board meetings (see Board Meetings).
Our Board consists of nine members. Board members are elected once a year during the co-op's annual shareholders' meeting, generally held the third or fourth week of June. If you are interested in being a Board member or volunteering for the co-op in another capacity, for more information.
The corporation must have access to every apartment in the event of an emergency. Residents must leave a full set of keys with the superintendent. These keys will be kept in a safe, locked box. They will be used only in the event of an emergency (for example, if there is flood in the bathroom that leaks into a lower floor). Residents who fail to provide keys to the super will be liable for any expenses incurred in the course of gaining entry to their apartments in the event of emergencies. (See Paragraph 25 of the Proprietary Lease for more information.)
Air conditioners may be installed only with the prior written approval of the Board of Directors and the guidance of the superintendent. If you are planning to install one, you must contact the managing agent and the superintendent to obtain written approval from the Board of Directors. Failure to do so constitutes a serious violation of the Proprietary Lease.
Only casement-type air conditioners will be allowed: you may not modify or destroy a window frame to install a standard-size or larger air conditioner. (Windows are the property of the corporation.) If a window frame has previously been modified in order to install a standard-size or larger air conditioner, the Board of Directors may choose to waive the requirement for a casement-type air conditioner. However, this waiver must be obtained in writing from the Board of Directors.
In general, the Board encourages shareholders to make improvements in their apartments; it only aims to make sure that alterations and renovations are not unduly disruptive to other residents or damaging to the structural integrity of the building. For this reason, if you wish to make an alteration in your apartment — including installation of any appliance that involves water or gas pipes, plumbing fixtures, or rewiring or other electrical work — you must contact our managing agent and obtain Board approval before you begin any work. Failure to do so constitutes a serious violation of the Proprietary Lease. (See Paragraph 21 of the Proprietary Lease for more information.)
Depending on the difficulty of the work and the potential for damage, you will be asked to fill out an Alteration Agreement (PDF, 21KB), which spells out the co-op's policies and requirements. Generally, these specify that all contractors used must be licensed and insured, a $500 security deposit (refundable) is required, and work can only take place between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
When structural work is involved, the Board may elect to have the co-op's engineer or architect review plans, drawings, or specifications of the alteration at the shareholder's expense.
Once you have received approval for your alteration or renovation, you must post a Notice of Construction (PDF, 44KB) on your building's bulletin board and on your apartment door, to inform your neighbors about the construction schedule. (See also Repairs and Maintenance.)
Shareholders are responsible for maintaining and repairing visible plumbing fixtures in their bathrooms. If the drains in your bathroom are slow, please do not use a commercial drain cleaning product. Call the superintendent and he will use a snake to unclog your drain. Products like Drano and Liquid Plumber can make matters worse and will eventually eat through the pipes and cause a leak.
Periodically, give the tiles in your shower or bathtub a visual inspection to make sure they are in good repair. You should inspect the grouting between tiles. Gaps in the grouting can result in leaks and damaged walls and can require a costly tile job in the future, which will be the shareholder's responsibility. Small grouting jobs to close gaps can be done by the superintendent at no cost to the shareholder or renter/sublessee. Please make arrangements with the superintendent.
Bicycle racks have been installed in the basement storage room in 37 Nagle Avenue. Storage spaces on these racks are available to tenant-shareholders only, on a first-come, first-served basis. The annual rental fee for a space is $60 per year ($5 per month to appear on a rack renter's maintenance bill). If you are interested, please contact our managing agent.
Meetings of the Board of Directors are held once a month. The schedule is posted on the bulletin boards in each lobby and on the online calendar — all shareholders are welcome to attend the open sessions of the meetings. Board meeting minutes are public records and are available to interested shareholders from the managing agent.
If you wish that a particular subject be addressed during a Board meeting, you may request that the subject be added to the agenda for an upcoming meeting by sending a written request to the managing agent. If the matter can be handled through other venues not requiring a full hearing by the Board of Directors, the managing agent will notify the shareholder of how to resolve the situation. If the matter merits a hearing during a Board meeting, it will be added to the agenda for discussion as soon as possible at a future meeting.
For more information on how to resolve problems or handle situations, see Whom to Contact, Comments and Suggestions, and Complaints and Resolution of Problems.
The By-Laws (PDF, 31KB) are a written set of provisions and directions for the running of the co-op. They cover topics such as how the board of directors is elected, when membership meetings shall be held, and other issues related to the governance of the cooperative.
Our buildings are wired for cable television service provided by Time Warner Cable. The Basic/Standard/DTV combination service package for one DTV cable box is provided at a bulk discount rate of 28 percent off the regular retail price ($41.14 per month as of 10/1/04). Additional boxes and other services and packages are provided at regular prices. There is no installation charge for the primary box.
To request service, call Time Warner's 24-hour customer service line, 212-358-0900.
The Board does not permit the installation of satellite dishes. They deface the building through the installation process, they are an eyesore that the Board does not want to encourage, and they create a hazard (they could fall from their clamps).
The Proprietary Lease requires that every apartment with wooden floors have carpeting or rugs covering at least 80 percent of the floor area of each room within the apartment (except the kitchen, bathroom, foyer, and closets), unless there is no apartment underneath. Therefore, this requirement applies to all apartments located on floors 2 through 6 in all three buildings in our co-op, except apartments 2D and 2E in 37 Nagle Avenue. It does not apply to apartments on the first floor. This requirement was instituted to minimize noise.
If you have any comments or suggestions for changes or improvements in the management of the co-op, please submit them in writing by placing them in the communication boxes located in the lobbies of our three buildings, by or by mailing or faxing them to the managing agent. Submitting your comments and suggestions in writing increases the likelihood that they will be addressed in a timely fashion.
The Co-op Board Room in the basement of 37 Nagle Avenue was expanded in 2001 to a nice size and is now a Community Room for the use of co-op residents. If you would like to use the room for meetings, gatherings or other events, please conatact the managing agent and provide details about the proposed gathering, including the number of expected participants. The Board will decide whether to make the room available on a case-by-case basis, but we prefer small, quiet gatherings — with the possible exception of children's birthday parties. If your gathering is approved, you will be asked to agree to and sign the Community Room Rental Agreement (PDF, 23KB).
The room is available free of charge for co-op–related activities (such as co-op committee meetings or free educational presentations for the benefit of residents), and for a modest fee ($7 per each expected participant) for activities that are not co-op–related (such as a birthday party or religious gathering). If you are a shareholder, the fee will be added to your maintenance bill. If you are a renter or sublessee, you will be sent an invoice; check or money order should be made payable to Nagle Apartments Corp. and sent to the managing agent in advance (no cash accepted).
Organizers (and/or participants) must sweep and clean the room after the activity, including the restroom, disposing of garbage and recyclables in the proper receptacles in the recycling area of the basement (see Garbage Disposal and Recycling).
Failure to leave the room in as good a condition as it was found will result in hefty fees and in your group not being permitted to use the room again. Any damages will be billed to you at replacement cost.
If you have any complaints about or are involved in disputes with your neighbors, employees of the co-op, or employees of the garage, the proper procedure is to contact our managing agent. Dealing with such complaints or disputes is part of the managing agent's job; please do not contact members of the Board of Directors in such instances.
However, if you are not satisfied with the managing agent's resolution of your problem or you have a complaint about the managing agent or the management company, please notify the Board of Directors in writing, explaining the situation fully. You may submit these latter complaints through the communication boxes located in the lobbies of our three buildings or by .
Automatic, apartment-size dishwashers may be installed at the shareholder's expense, only with the guidance of the superintendent. (See also Washing Machines and Dryers.)
As a NaBors Apartments resident, you can have an e-mail account that ends in @naborsapts.org!
You can get a POP account or a forwarding account of the type
The POP accounts can be accessed through an e-mail program like Outlook Express or Eudora, or through the Web interface at http://webmail.naborsapts.org/. The Web interface means that you don't even need to have Internet access at home to read your e-mail. You could access it from work, a public library or an Internet cafe through any Web browser.
If you would like an account, send an e-mail message with the following information to :
POP Account (accessible through e-mail program or Web):
— Your full name
— Apartment No.
— Desired username (e-mail address of the type )
— Name of e-mail program you use or plan to use
Forwarding Account (forwards e-mails to your current address):
— Your full name
— Apartment No.
— Desired username (e-mail address of the type )
— E-mail address to forward e-mails to
If you chose the forwarding account, once you send us the information, we will:
— Confirm that the account has been set up
— And then you will be able to tell all your friends and foes what your new e-mail address is.
If you chose the POP account, once you send the information we will:
— Set up your account
— Send you the login information including a temporary password
— Send you instructions on how to change the password
— Send you instructions on how to set up your preferred e-mail program to download e-mail from the server.
Our elevators were recently overhauled — brand-new mechanisms were installed and the cabs were renovated with gorgeous paneling and brass fixtures. Because the mechanisms are new, it is unlikely that the elevators will break down too often, as they did in the past.
However, just in case, here is what to do if an elevator breaks down with a person inside:
The super has a key that permits him to open the door, so reaching him is the best possible solution and means that the person could be out in a matter of minutes. Century Elevator, on the other hand, may take up to an hour to respond because they are not nearby and may have to locate the staff person on call.
An emergency is defined as an extreme condition that threatens the building or its residents. Our superintendent is on call after hours (after 3 p.m. Monday through Friday and after 11 a.m. Saturday) for building emergencies and can be called at 212-569-2661 or beeped at 917-802-2369. If he does not respond, call Blue Woods' 24-hour emergency line, 718-549-7036, and they will locate someone to help. If the emergency is life-threatening, such as an apartment fire or a medical emergency, always call 911 first. (See Fire Safety and Smoke Detectors.)
Emergencies include water leaks through walls or ceilings, gas odors, elevator breakdown with a passenger inside, smoke, or fire. Obviously, there are other situations that might be considered emergencies. Please use good judgment before calling the superintendent after hours. For example, a brown water stain on your bathroom ceiling is not an emergency; water leaking through is (see also Repairs and Maintenance).
If an emergency requires that building staff access an apartment, access must be granted at all costs (see Access to Apartments).
Please provide the managing agent with emergency contact information, including your daytime phone number and the name and phone number of a person who should be contacted in case of a medical emergency (see House Rule no. 1). This information will be used only in case of emergency or if management needs to have access to your apartment to conduct immediate repairs (for example, if a leak in your pipe is causing damage to the building or to the apartment below).
For your convenience, you can submit your emergency contact information online. Thank you for your cooperation.
The information that is being requested from you on this form is extremely important. We will use this information to contact you in case of emergency or if management needs to have access to your apartment to conduct immediate repairs (for example, if a leak in your pipe is causing damage to the building or to the apartment below).
If you haven't done so already, please fill out the form and submit it. Thank you for your cooperation.
Two of the main responsibilities of the Board of Directors are to ensure the financial viability of the co-op and to protect and enhance the quality of life of all residents. For these reasons, the Board will not hesitate to initiate eviction proceedings against shareholders, sublessees, or tenants who fail to meet their financial obligations to the co-op in a timely manner or who continually break the house rules and other rules and regulations of the co-op. (For more information, see Maintenance/Rent Payments and Late Fees, House Rules, and all other sections of this handbook.)
Pest control is an important contributor to the well-being of our co-op and its residents. The co-op provides free extermination services regularly. Please cooperate with the superintendent and ensure that your apartment is available for extermination services at least once a month.
To request extermination services, please place your name on the signup sheet in the lobby of your building and indicate whether you will be home to let the exterminator in or whether you wish the superintendent to let the exterminator into your apartment. For security's sake in your absence, the superintendent will accompany the exterminator.
For best results, remove items from cabinets and cupboards on the day you have scheduled for a visit by the exterminator.
Please do not feed stray cats, birds, or other animals on the property. Food attracts vermin, including rats, mice, and roaches. And stray animals can be a source of disease.
Obstructing fire escapes is against the law; they must be kept absolutely clear. No radio or TV wires or antennas, plants, storage containers, or anything else may be kept on fire escapes.
For security, residents are allowed to install window gates on windows that lead to a fire escape. However, only gates approved by the Fire Department are permitted on these windows. No padlocks may be used. Some gates have self-releasing locks that are approved. For more information and to get the names of approved gate manufacturers, contact the superintendent or the fire department (212-570-4295). Gates may be installed only with the superintendent's guidance.
In the event of a fire, please take the following steps:
If the fire is in your apartment ...
If the fire is not in your apartment ...
By law, every apartment must have at least one electric or battery-operated ionization or photoelectric smoke detector installed properly. The smoke detectors must carry the seal of approval of Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., Canadian Standards Associates, or Underwriters' Laboratories of Canada. Residents must let the superintendent come into the apartment to install at least one smoke detector.
Smoke detectors may be mounted on the wall or the ceiling. If mounted on the wall, they must be placed between 4 and 12 inches from the ceiling; if mounted on the ceiling, they must be at least 4 inches from the wall. Mounting a smoke detector on the ceiling of small alcoves between rooms, where there is little airflow, is not recommended. The co-op will provide one smoke detector free of charge and free batteries when needed. It is recommended that the battery be replaced once a year — a good day to replace it is when we switch to daylight saving time. Please contact the superintendent when your smoke detector's battery runs out (the detector will beep intermittently).
For further fire protection, we recommend that you install a small dry chemical fire extinguisher in your kitchen. They cost about $20 and can be very handy when you least expect it.
The Fitness Center is located in the basement of 14 Bogardus Place and is open 24 hours a day. Access is obtained by the use of a key-card issued to members.
Equipment includes:
Fitness center membership costs $20 per month per household. Please contact the Fitness Center Coordinator in Apartment 2K for a membership application.
Fitness Center Rules and Regulations
Please note: These rules are subject to change.
Our buildings are equipped with waste compactors for the disposal of nonrecyclable garbage. There is a garbage chute on every floor down which you can throw your "wet" garbage bags (kitchen and bathroom refuse). Please make sure the bags are tied securely before you dispose of them, so that you don't create a mess for our superintendent. Bulky garbage bags and other large items should be taken down to the basement and disposed of in the containers provided for the purpose.
Do not leave recyclable waste in the chute room. Recyclables must be separated and disposed of in a different manner. (For more information, see the Recycling section.)
If you need to dispose of furniture, appliances, or excessive amounts of garbage, please make arrangements with the superintendent. He will know how to prepare these items for disposal and will assist you.
We are one of the few co-ops in New York City blessed with an interior courtyard. With a lush, shady tree and lots of flowers and plants, the courtyard is a luxury we are proud of. (See also Playground.)
Many residents enjoy planting their own flowers, which contributes to the beauty of the space for all who use it. The co-op usually organizes a yearly planting day in the spring. If you would like to plant in the garden, please remember a few common-sense guidelines:
If you would like to schedule a get-together in the garden (daytime only), this requires permission of the Board. Please call our managing agent for more information.
You are permitted to have guests in your apartment from time to time. A guest is anyone staying with you who is not a member of your immediate family (that is, not your spouse, child, grand-child, parent, grandparent, brother or sister) or who is not your roommate (see Roommates). Your guests can stay with you for a period not to exceed one month. If you would like to have a guest stay with you for a period longer than one month, you must request permission from the Board of Directors via the managing agent, in writing.
You must be residing in your apartment when your guests are visiting. If you're living elsewhere and there are people occupying your apartment without the consent of the Board of Directors, this will be considered an unauthorized sublet and a serious violation of your Proprietary Lease. (For more information on who can occupy your apartment, see Paragraph 14 of your Proprietary Lease. See also the Sublet Policy.)
Home equity loans (HEL) and lines of credit (HELOC) are loans in which the borrower uses the equity in the home as collateral. They are usually referred to as "second mortgages" because they are secured against the value of the property, just like regular mortgages. Second mortgages can be useful to help finance major expenses, such as home repairs, medical bills or college education.
If you decide to get a second mortgage, you should understand that you will not only have to fill out the paperwork required by your financial institution and meet their requirements, you will also have to fill out paperwork and gather materials for the co-op. The co-op must protect its interests and agree to the second mortgage as well.
You must therefore contact our transfer agent as soon as you start thinking about getting such a loan, and you will be sent guidelines listing the requirements. Among these are: maximum financing allowed (80 percent of the apartment's appraised value, minus liens against the property), copy of loan commitment letter, proof of current debt service, proof of current income, financial statement, and credit release authorization. All obligations to the co-op must be current. A refinance application fee in the amount of $150, payable to Nagle Apartments Corp., must be included with your application. The Board may also want to meet with you after all documentation has been provided. (See also Mortgage Loan Refinancing.)
Reproduced here for your convenience are the House Rules, which form part of the Proprietary Lease. Shareholders, tenants, and sublessees are bound by these rules. Failure to follow them constitutes a violation of the Proprietary Lease. In the House Rules, "Lessor" refers to the co-op corporation as represented by the Board of Directors. If you want to request approval for an activity listed in the House Rules, submit your request to the Board of Directors via the managing agent.
These House Rules are not the only rules that shareholders, tenants, and sublessees must abide by; additional rules and regulations are instituted occasionally during meetings of the Board of Directors. Additional rules and regulations are summarized in this Co-op Handbook.
1. The Lessee shall provide the Lessor and its managing agent a telephone number where the Lessee may be reached at home and at the Lessee's place of business and also shall provide the Lessor an emergency contact name and telephone number.
2. The Lessee shall place with the superintendent a set of keys for the Lessee's apartment, to be used only in emergencies.
3. The public halls and stairways of the building shall not be obstructed or used for any purpose other than ingress to and egress from the apartments in the building.
4. No one may smoke in the public halls, stairways, elevators, laundry rooms or other public areas of the building.
5. No article shall be placed in the public halls or on the staircase landings, nor shall anything be hung or shaken from the doors, windows or fire escapes or placed upon the window sills of the building.
6. No tricycles, bicycles, scooters or similar vehicles or baby carriages shall be allowed to stand in the public halls, passageways, courtyards or other public areas of the building.
7. No public hall of the building shall be decorated or furnished by any Lessee in any manner without the prior consent of all of the Lessees to whose apartments such hall serves as a means of ingress and egress. In the event of disagreement among such Lessees, the Board of Directors shall decide.
8. Children shall not play in the public halls, stairways, elevators or laundry rooms.
9. All children in the playground area must be supervised by an adult. The playground equipment is for the use of children age 5 and under.
10. No awnings, window air-conditioning units or ventilators shall be used in or about the building except such as shall have been approved in writing by the Lessor or the managing agent, nor shall anything be projected out of any window of the building without similar approval.
11. No sign, notice, advertisement or illumination shall be inscribed or exposed on or at any window or other part of the building, except such as shall have been approved in writing by the Lessor or the managing agent.
12. No one is permitted on the roof except in the case of fire.
13. No Lessee shall make or permit any disturbing noises in the building or do or permit anything to be done therein which will interfere with the rights, comfort or convenience of other Lessees. No Lessee shall play upon or suffer to be played upon any musical instrument or permit to be operated a stereo or a radio or television loud speaker or any other source of amplified sound in such Lessee's apartment between the hours of eleven (11:00) o'clock p.m. and the following eight (8:00) o'clock a.m. if the same shall disturb or annoy other occupants of the building. No construction or repair work or other installation involving noise shall be conducted in any apartment except between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Move in/move out times must be approved in writing by Lessor.
14. All nonresidents seeking entrance to the building must be either heard on the voice intercom or seen through the security camera before being permitted to enter.
15. Garbage and refuse from the apartments shall be disposed of only at times and in such manner as the superintendent or the managing agent of the building may direct.
16. All paper, plastic, glass, metal and foil deemed appropriate by city ordinance for recycling shall be disposed of in the appropriate containers.
17. No radio or television aerial or satellite dish shall be attached to or hung from the exterior of the building without the prior written approval of the Lessor or the managing agent.
18. The Lessee shall purchase and maintain adequate homeowners insurance coverage. The insurance policy must include personal property loss and liability coverage. The Lessee must provide the Lessor with documentation of compliance with the requirements of this house rule.
19. Water closets and other water apparatus in the building shall not be used for any purposes other than those for which they were constructed, nor shall any sweepings, rubbish, rags or any other article be thrown into the water closets. The cost of repairing any damage resulting from misuse of any water closets or other apparatus shall be paid for by the Lessee in whose apartment it shall have been caused.
20. Cats, dogs, and other pets are permitted in the building only if the pets do not create a nuisance. Dogs must be licensed by the New York City Department of Health. Cats must be spayed or neutered and must have received all customary immunizations. Pet owners are required to provide the Lessor with documentation of compliance with the requirements of this house rule. In no event shall dogs or cats be permitted on elevators or in any of the public portions of the building unless carried or on a leash. No pigeons or other birds or animals shall be fed from the window sills, or in the yard, court spaces or other public portions of the building, or on the sidewalk or street adjacent to the building. Pet owners are responsible for eliminating any odor or other byproducts of their pets.
21. No Lessee shall send any employee of the Lessor out of the building on any private business of a Lessee.
22. No vehicle belonging to a Lessee or to a member of the family or guest, subtenant or employee of a Lessee shall be parked in such manner as to impede or prevent ready access to any entrance of the building by another vehicle.
23. The Lessor shall have the right from time to time to curtail or relocate any space devoted to storage purposes. Storing hazardous or flammable material, such as paint, in a storage bin is not permitted.
24. The floors of each apartment must be covered with rugs or carpeting or equally effective noise-reducing material to the extent of at least eighty (80%) percent of the floor area of each room excepting only kitchens, bathrooms, closets and foyers.
25. No group tour or exhibition of any apartment or its contents shall be conducted, nor shall any auction sale be held in any apartment without the prior written consent of the Lessor or its managing agent.
26. The Lessee shall keep the windows of the apartment clean. In case of refusal or neglect of the Lessee within ten (10) days after notice in writing from the Lessor or the managing agent to clean the windows, such cleaning may be done by the Lessor, which shall have the right, by its officers or authorized agents, to enter the apartment for the purpose of such cleaning and to charge the cost of such cleaning to the Lessee.
27. The agents of the Lessor, and any contractor or employee authorized by the Lessor, may enter any apartment at any reasonable hour of the day for the purpose of inspecting such apartment to ascertain whether measures are necessary or desirable to control or exterminate any vermin, insects or other pests and for the purpose of taking such measures as may be necessary to control or exterminate any such vermin, insects or other pests. If the Lessor takes measures to control or exterminate carpet beetles, the cost thereof shall be payable by the Lessee, as additional rent.
28. Complaints regarding maintenance of the buildings shall be made in writing to the managing agent of the Lessor.
29. The Lessee shall abide by all arrangements made by the Lessor with the garage operator with regard to the garage and driveways thereto.
30. Any consent or approval given under these House Rules by the Lessor shall be revocable at any time.
31. These House Rules may be added to, amended or repealed at any time by resolution of the Board of Directors of the Lessor.
Shareholders are required to carry adequate homeowner's insurance coverage of their apartments, fixtures and furnishings, and personal possessions. Shareholders may be responsible for damage to other apartments caused by leakage from plumbing, basin, or other fixtures in their apartments; we therefore require that the insurance policy cover such eventualities as well. If you have not already done so, please provide the Board of Directors with a copy of your current insurance policy; send it to our managing agent.
If you're in the process of purchasing a new insurance policy, comparison shop for the best rates and coverage, which will vary widely from company to company, so contact several different agencies. Look under "Homeowners' & Renters' Insurance" in the yellow pages.
Consider the following when comparing policies:
Type of Coverage. Damage to personal property from fire, smoke, vandalism, wind, hail, and water (caused by damaged plumbing); theft of personal property on and off the premises; personal liability for lawsuits if, for example, your bathtub overflows and damages the apartment below, or your dog bites a neighbor, or someone slips and falls in your apartment due to negligence.
Amount of Coverage. (1) Cost and deductibles — The cost of a policy will depend on your living situation and is based on such factors as the number of apartments in the building, the construction of the building, whether you live alone or with others and your relationship to them. (2) Noninsurable items — Some insurance companies will not insure certain items, such as stereo systems.
Loss Assessment Coverage: In addition to the typical homeowners insurance coverage, the Board requires that you purchase loss assessment coverage. If the co-op suffers a loss that exceeds the coverage provided by the co-op's own insurance policy, the co-op would have to pass on the difference to the shareholders in the form of an assessment. The loss assessment coverage in your insurance policy would protect you against such an eventuality — your insurance company would cover your share of the assessment (up to the amount of coverage you have purchased). A typical premium for loss assessment coverage of $25-$50 per year could provide you with protection for loss assessments from $25,000 to $50,000. As with other elements of your homeowners insurance coverage, you should shop carefully for the best deal.
Additional Insured: It is recommended that you list the following as an "additional insured":
Nagle Apartments Corp.
c/o Blue Woods Management Group
5701 Arlington Avenue
Riverdale, NY 10471
That way, your insurance company will notify management directly when coverage is established, changed or discontinued.
Fine: A $250 fine will be levied every 1st of July if no proof of the required insurance coverage (including loss assessment coverage) is on file with management.
One key to the entrance, one key to the elevator (for access to the basement), and one key for the mailbox are provided to each shareholder or renter when s/he first takes possession of an apartment. There is a deposit of $25 each for the entrance and elevator keys. The first mailbox key is issued free of charge or deposit. If the shareholder or his/her sublessee/renter loses any of these keys, s/he must notify the superintendent; deposits are forfeited in the event of key loss. Replacement mailbox keys will be issued for a nonrefundable charge of $5 each.
Duplicate entrance and elevator keys for others who share the household are available for a deposit of $25 each as well. Talk to the superintendent to get additional keys. If you sell your apartment, you must return the keys to get back your deposit(s).
Entrance and elevator locks will be replaced occasionally for security's sake. Announcements to shareholders and sublessees/renters will be made in such instances. When this happens, shareholders (or sublessees/renters) should turn in the old keys to the superintendent for replacement.
Laundry facilities are located in the basements of 31-37 Nagle Avenue and 14 Bogardus Place. The laundry rooms are open 24 hours a day. The washing machines and dryers operate with a SmartCard system — no coins are necessary. Each laundry room has a Value Transfer Machine (VTM) that allows you to add value to your SmartCard or to purchase a new one. The VTM accepts 5-, 10-, and 20-dollar bills.
If you encounter a problem in the laundry room, please call the laundry company, Service Directions, at 1-800-945-WASH (9274). If there are ongoing difficulties that have not been resolved adequately by Service Directions, please bring them to the attention of the managing agent. (See also Washing Machines and Dryers.)
Lead poisoning is a serious condition that most often affects children between infancy and six years of age. The source of lead is often the original paint in older apartments (those built before 1960), which may contain lead. Children can be exposed to lead when paint peels and the children breathe in the dust or eat paint flakes. The co-op is required to notify residents of the possibility that there is lead in the old paint of our apartments and inform them of how to protect their children. For this reason, residents of record — tenant shareholders and sublessees/renters alike — are required to complete and return a lead paint notification form indicating whether there are any children residing in the apartment. This form is sent by the management company to residents every January or February.
Maintenance is due on or before the first day of each month. (If you rent a co-op-owned apartment, then your rent is also due on or before the first day of the month.) Maintenance (and rent for co-op-owned apartments) may be delivered by mail to the management company's lockbox. Make your check payable to "Nagle Apartments Corp." and send it to:
Nagle Apartments Corp.
c/o Blue Woods Management Group, Inc.
P.O. Box 7048
Yonkers, NY 10710-7048
Don't forget to write your account number on the check, include the payment stub, and make sure the address shows through the envelope window.
As an alternative, payments may be made automatically by preauthorized direct debit from your bank account. If you would like to have payments made using this method, please fill out the Authorization Agreement for Preauthorized Direct Debit Payments (PDF, 300KB) and mail it along with a voided check to Blue Woods Management Group, Inc., 5701 Arlington Avenue, Riverdale, NY 10471. The funds transfer is scheduled to occur on the fifth business day of the month, excluding bank holidays. If you have questions, contact Blue Woods at 718-549-7036.
A late fee of $0.75 per share may be assessed if your full maintenance (or rent) payment is not received and credited by the 16th day of the month. If your account is still past due on the last day of the month, an additional late fee of $1 per share may be assessed.
If you do not pay your maintenance (or rent) on time, you will receive notices from the managing agent. The managing agent will be happy to meet or speak with you by phone to discuss and resolve the problem. If you do not pay your maintenance (or rent) for two months, and do not meet with the managing agent to resolve the problem, eviction proceedings will be initiated (see Evictions).
One of the main reasons homeowners refinance their mortgages is to take advantage of lower interest rates. If rates have lowered since the time of the original mortgage loan you obtained to purchase your shares in the co-op (known as a "share loan") you might refinance your mortgage at a better rate and therefore reduce your monthly payments.
A general rule of thumb states that if rates drop by two percentage points, then it's worth it to refinance. However, it might be worth it to refinance with only a one-percent drop in interest rates if you find a good deal on refinancing costs. A new lender may be willing to negotiate a reduction of points or a waiver of the title search, application, credit check or other fees.
To determine whether it's worth it for you to refinance your share loan, you should do a break-even analysis. This analysis will help you figure out how many months it will take before you break even, after taking into consideration all the up-front refinancing costs, any prepayment penalty on your current loan, and the savings in interest payments. You can do this analysis online yourself by using the "Mortgage Refinance Savings Analysis" calculator available on our accountants' website. Or ask your financial advisor to help you.
Some lenders offer a zero point/zero fee loan, which means that you do not have to pay most of the fees generally required; however, your monthly payments may be somewhat higher (lenders generally will charge a higher interest rate for this type of loan). The zero point/zero fee loan eliminates the need to do a "break-even analysis" since there is no up-front expense that needs to be recovered.
If you do decide to refinance, you should understand that, not only will you have to fill out the paperwork required by your financial institution and meet their requirements, but also you will have to fill out paperwork and gather materials for the co-op — the co-op must protect its interests and agree to the refinancing as well. In addition, the Board may want to meet with you to review your request.
You must therefore contact our transfer agent as soon as you start thinking about refinancing, and you will be sent guidelines listing the requirements. Among these are: maximum financing allowed (80 percent of the apartment's appraised value), copy of loan commitment letter, proof of current debt service, proof of current income, financial statement, and credit release authorization. All obligations to the co-op must be current. A refinance application fee in the amount of $150, payable to Nagle Apartments Corp., must be included with your application. (See also Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit.)
Before moving in or out of the co-op, you must notify the managing agent and make arrangements with the superintendent. You will be asked to pay a moving fee of $250 to help defray the costs of extra cleanup work on the part of the superintendent and porter. You will also have to make a refundable deposit of $200 to cover expenses of the co-op in the event that there are any damages resulting from the moving process. If there are no damages, you will get back your $200 deposit.
Moving must be scheduled between the hours of 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. on weekdays only. Please be considerate of your neighbors and avoid making excessive noise when you move.
All residents of our co-op have the right to the "quiet enjoyment" of their apartments. This means that we should all take care not to make excessive noises or create disturbances that interfere with the comfort and convenience of other residents. No one is allowed to play musical instruments, stereos, television sets, or other sources of amplified sound in a loud manner between the hours of 11 p.m. and 8 a.m. the following morning, if it annoys or disturbs other residents. At other times, please be reasonable in the level of noise you produce.
Similarly, construction or repair work and other noisy activities (such as putting up picture frames or assembling furniture) should be done only between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
If you have a complaint about ongoing noise from a neighbor, please contact the managing agent. She will try to resolve the problem through negotiation with the offender. If you have a complaint about a disturbance or noise that is likely to be short-lived — such as a noisy party, a fight in the hallway, or a disturbance in the street — call the 34th Police Precinct at 212-927-9711 and they should take care of it.
Official notices from the managing agent or the Board of Directors and other news about the building will be posted on the bulletin boards located in the lobby of each building. Notices may also be posted inside the elevators and in the laundry room bulletin boards. Or they may be distributed under apartment doors or by mail.
Residents are encouraged to use the bulletin boards for announcements and information. However, they are not to be used by individuals or businesses outside our co-op.
The basic content and format of the By-Laws, Proprietary Lease and House Rules were set up in the original Offering Plan or Prospectus issued by the co-op's sponsor back in 1982 when our buildings went co-op. Over the years, there have been a number of Amendments to the Offering Plan. You should have received a complete copy of the Offering Plan (including attachments and amendments) from the person who sold you your shares in the co-op. If you didn't get it or have lost it since, you can purchase another copy of the complete package from the managing agent for $100. .
Shareholders do not need to get the Board's permission to paint their apartment. The Board's concern is that the painting be done in such a way as to be minimally disruptive to other residents. Work should be done between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
If you hire a contractor to do the painting, the contractor must be insured and must provide a certificate of insurance naming the co-op, the shareholder, and the managing agent as insureds.
Shareholders are responsible to make sure that contractors dispose of materials properly and do no damage to any common areas. Additionally, it is the shareholder's responsibility to make sure that hallways and public areas are kept clean and free of dust and debris resulting from sanding, plastering, etc.
If you need suggestions on hiring good, inexpensive contractors, talk to the superintendent.
The 31 Nagle Avenue parking garage is leased by an independent garage operator. Shareholders receive a discount of 10 percent on the monthly rates. Arrangements should be made directly with the garage operator. Monthly garage fees will appear on your co-op maintenance bill.
Residents who park in the garage are entitled to the Manhattan Resident Parking Tax Exemption; the application form for the exemption is available on the web site of the NYC Department of Finance.
If you have complaints about the garage or its employees, please send a written complaint to our managing agent.
Cats, dogs, and other pets are permitted in the co-op only if the pets do not create a nuisance. You should ensure that your pet does not interfere with the right of other residents to the "quiet enjoyment" of their apartments (see Noise and Other Disturbances). In addition, you must be certain that your pet does not pose a threat to the safety of any person and that you eliminate any odor or other byproducts of your pet.
Dogs in our co-op must be licensed by the New York City Department of Health. Cats must be spayed or neutered and must have received all customary immunizations. Pet owners are required to provide the co-op with documentation of compliance with these requirements. If you have not already done so, please send our managing agent a copy of such documentation.
If there are complaints about a pet that is said to be interfering with other residents, the burden of proof will always be on the pet owner, and the decision of the Board regarding resolution of any such disputes is final.
Pets should always be carried or on a leash in the public areas of the co-op, and, as a matter of courtesy, pet owners should inquire before entering an elevator with a pet whether other passengers object to riding with the pet. Dogs are not permitted in our garden/courtyard, and pigeons, cats, and other stray animals should not be fed anywhere around the co-op. (See also Feeding Stray and Wild Animals.)
Our spacious interior courtyard (see Garden/Courtyard) is home to a wonderful toddlers' playground. It is a terrific space for children to play and families to meet. The playground is designed specifically for 1-5 year olds. (Older children can use the Anne Loftus Playground, at the corner of Broadway and Dyckman Street.)
The floor of the playground is layered with rubber safety surfacing, which helps to minimize the impact of trips and falls. In addition, the playground is equipped with gates around the stairs to prevent falls down the stairs. However, no playground is immune to danger. To create a safe environment for the young ones in your family, please follow these commonsense guidelines:
The Proprietary Lease (PDF, 58KB) is the legal document that spells out the terms and conditions you agreed to when you became a shareholder in Nagle Apartments Corp. If you are a tenant or sublessee, these terms and conditions flow down to you as well, since you signed a tenant's lease or a sublease, which incorporates the terms of the proprietary lease by reference.
Please help our super and the co-op in our recycling efforts. When we recycle, we help protect the environment by reusing materials that would otherwise end up in waste dumps here in New York State and throughout the world. Besides, recycling is the law in New York City. Every time we don't recycle properly, our buildings get charged a fine (currently between $500 and $2,000 per violation). These fines could translate into higher maintenance and rent charges to you in the future.
You can dispose of your recyclable items in the recycling bins located in the basement of your building, by the laundry room. Please sort your recyclables as follows:
In the blue bins with blue (or clear) plastic bags ...
In the green bins with clear plastic bags ...
Do not recycle anything else: do not recycle glass items other than bottles and jars, other kinds of plastics like deli and yogurt containers, Styrofoam, plastic toys, etc. Discard these items in the regular trash cans (with black plastic bags).
For information on discarding regular garbage, see Garbage Disposal.
The questions most frequently asked by shareholders involve whose responsibility it is to repair and maintain things in their apartments. Basically, it boils down to the difference between inside and out. The shareholder is responsible for everything inside the apartment. This includes interior walls, floors, visible plumbing fixtures and gas lines, electrical wiring inside the apartment up to and including the breaker/fuse box, dripping faucets, running toilets, appliances, etc.
The co-op is responsible for everything outside the apartment, including the common areas and building systems. Among these are heating equipment, water supply, plumbing lines within the walls, electrical risers up to but not including the breaker/fuse box in each apartment, etc.
If you need to have something repaired for which the co-op bears responsibility, please call the superintendent or place a written request in the communications box in the lobby of your building or under the super's apartment door in 14 Bogardus Place. Renters/sublessees should contact their landlords for repairs inside their apartments.
For a more detailed discussion of the obligations of the shareholder and the co-op regarding maintenance and repairs, see Paragraph 18 of your Proprietary Lease (PDF, 58KB). (See also Alterations and Renovations, Bathroom Maintenance, and Window Maintenance.)
No one is permitted on the roof, except in the case of fire. However, even in a fire emergency, you should try to go down below the fire, not up to the roof (see Fire Safety and Smoke Detectors).
The New York State Roommate Law allows an apartment tenant or owner-occupant to have a roommate, but only if the tenant or owner-occupant is the only person who signed the lease (or the Proprietary Lease in the case of owner-occupants). If two or more people signed the lease, they are not entitled to have any roommates. A roommate is a person who lives with you who is not a member of your immediate family (that is, not your spouse, child, grand-child, parent, grandparent, brother or sister), is not a guest (see Guests), and pays part of the rent or maintenance.
If you're eligible to have a roommate and choose to do so, the Roommate Law requires you to inform the Co-op Board of the existence of your roommate within 30 days of the roommate's having moved in. You will need to notify the Board in writing via the managing agent about your intentions. In your letter, include the name and contact information of your roommate.
The co-op has done several things to help ensure the security of its residents. Our front door keys are expensive and may not be duplicated. We have locks on the elevators so that only residents may reach the basement. We have an intercom system so that you know who you're buzzing into the building. And we have installed security cameras at each entrance so that you can view who is at the door by tuning to cable Channel 76 (regular cable boxes) or Channel 999 (digital boxes). We also hold several parties throughout the year so that neighbors may meet neighbors.
However, we need your cooperation as well. Here is what you can do for security:
As soon as you are thinking of putting your apartment shares on the market (whether with a broker or privately), you should contact the transfer agent to obtain a resale application package. The package includes an application and instructions on other documentation that has to be submitted by the prospective shareholder, such as income verification, credit authorization, reference letters, a mortgage commitment letter (if applicable). Once all of the materials are complete, the Board will review the application and schedule an interview with the prospective purchaser(s).
The co-op has a Web page where available apartments can be listed for sale. An announcement about apartments available for sale will also be sent to our e-mail list and posted on the bulletin boards in the lobbies. To list your apartment, fill out the online Apartment Listing Form.
There are some points to keep in mind when showing your apartment for sale. If you are using a broker who will have keys to the building and the apartment, you must notify the managing agent and the superintendent. Open houses are not permitted without the consent of the Board of Directors. Signs on the building or in windows are not permitted.
If you are marketing the apartment yourself, remember that you will be inviting strangers into your home to see your apartment. Get as much information as is reasonably possible about the prospective purchaser. Remember that visitors to the building should not be buzzed in without first identifying themselves to you.
Before listing your apartment for sale, read the Selling Your Shares entry in the Co-op Handbook, and contact the managing agent to let them know of your plans and to request a resale application package. Then fill out the following form to list your apartment on the co-op's Apartments for Sale page and have an announcement sent out to our mailing list of more than 800 subscribers.
If you sell your shares in the co-op, you may be able to exclude some or all of the profit realized on the sale, up to $250,000 ($500,000 on joint tax returns). If you can exclude all of the gain, you do not need to report the sale on your tax return; that is, you will not have to pay any taxes on the profit. If some (or all) of the gain cannot be excluded, it is taxable as a capital gain (15% tax rate), and you must report it on Schedule D of IRS Form 1040.
(Please note that shareholders are eligible for this tax benefit only if the sale occurs on a co-op tax year when at least 80 percent of the co-op's gross income originates from shareholders, that is, no more than 20 percent of the co-op's gross income can come from commercial sources such as the garage.)
To claim the exclusion, you must meet the ownership and use tests. This means that during the five-year period ending on the date of the sale, you must have:
If you owned and lived in the property as your main home for less than two years, you can still claim an exclusion in some cases. The maximum amount you will be allowed to exclude will be reduced.
(If you have a capital loss, rather than a gain, unfortunately, you will not be able to claim the loss as a deduction.)
For more information on the home sale exclusion, request Publication 523 ("Selling Your Home") from the IRS. (See Tax Deductions for information on other tax advantages available to shareholders.)
Smoking is prohibited by law in the common areas inside our buildings. These areas include lobbies, elevators, hallways, stairways, laundry rooms, and basements. Please be considerate of your neighbors — don't smoke in public areas!
A limited number of storage lockers are available to tenant-shareholders in the basement of each building. The lockers are four feet wide, four feet deep, and six feet high and can be rented for a fee of $20 per month, which is added to the maintenance bill. You are not permitted to store combustibles or other hazardous substances in the lockers. If you are interested, contact our managing agent. (See also Bicycle Storage.)
"The primary purpose of the Corporation is to provide residences for shareholders ..." (Article I of the By-laws of Nagle Apartments Corp.). To ensure that the Corporation meets its primary obligation to its shareholders, the Board of Directors has formulated, adopted, and will enforce a fair sublet policy that balances the needs of the co-op community with the rights and desires of individual shareholders.
Sublet approval is an extraordinary accommodation provided to the shareholder; it is not a right derived from ownership. Excessive subletting has a detrimental effect on the ability of potential buyers, existing shareholders, and the co-op itself to obtain financing from lending institutions. It also has a negative impact on residents' quality of life. For these reasons, subletting is generally discouraged.
However, there are circumstances that may justify individual shareholders' subletting their apartments for a limited period of time. Examples of such circumstances include a sudden temporary transfer overseas or an appointment as a visiting professor. The Board is open to individual needs and considerations and will evaluate requests for permission to sublet on a case-by-case basis.
The co-op's sublet policy ensures a safe, quiet, and owner-oriented quality of life, while protecting the financial investments and ability to obtain financing of all shareholders.
Subject to the limitations in Paragraph 38 of the Proprietary Lease, which specifies the rights of holders of unsold shares, the Board of Directors has adopted the following regulations to guide the administration of sublets:
1. Right to Sublet. The right to sublet is contingent on a history of current maintenance payments.
2. Length of Sublease. The term of a sublease may not be for a period of less than six (6) months or more than twelve (12) months. No sublease may be renewed without the express prior written consent of the Board of Directors.
3. Maximum Subletting Period. A shareholder may be allowed to sublet his/her apartment for a cumulative maximum of two (2) years out of every six (6)-year period. The six-year period begins on the date the first sublease period starts.
4. Exceptions. Exceptions to Paragraphs 1-3 will be considered on a case-by-case basis. The Board will hear the request and grant an exception by a majority vote of all Board members (5 out of 9 votes in favor).
5. Request for Consent to Sublet. To obtain consent to a sublet or to renew, a shareholder must submit a written, signed request to the Board of Directors, via the Transfer Agent, at least 60 days in advance of the proposed starting date of the sublease. The request must include reasons for the proposed sublet, details including the proposed term of the sublease, and the shareholder's residence or location during the term of the sublease. Consent will be granted or denied by a majority vote of the Board of Directors. [For your convenience, a Request for Consent to Sublet Apartment (PDF, 44KB) is available online. Fill it out online, print it, and mail it to the transfer agent.]
6. Sublet Application and Approval. If consent is granted:
6a. the following must be submitted to the Board of Directors via the Managing Agent:
— a completed and signed sublet application,
— a copy of a completed and signed sublease agreement,
— an affidavit signed by the prospective sublessee stating that they have received a copy of the house rules and that they agree to abide by them,
— a check from the prospective sublessee, payable to Nagle Apartments Corp., in the amount of $75 to run a credit check,
— a check from the sublessor (shareholder), payable to Nagle Apartments Corp., in the amount of $75 (the Sublet Application Fee), and
— a check or money order from the sublessor, payable to Nagle Apartments Corp., in the amount of the sublet fee (see Item 7 below); and
6b. the proposed subtenant must be interviewed and approved at the following Board meeting or at a special Board meeting scheduled specifically for that purpose.
7. Sublet Fee. The shareholder will be charged a sublet fee of $25 per share per year. The sublet fee will be prorated for subleases that are shorter than one year in length. The fee is due along with the sublet application upon submission (see Item 6a above).
Note: In addition, the management company will charge a $250 fee to process the sublet application.
Children are not allowed to play in the public halls, stairways, elevators or laundry rooms. They can play in the garden/courtyard and the toddler playground (for children 5 years old and younger). All children in public areas must be supervised by an adult at all times. (See also Playground.)
Shareholders in a co-op corporation are considered by the Internal Revenue Service to be homeowners. As a shareholder, you are entitled to deduct your share of the real estate taxes and mortgage interest paid by the cooperative on tax years when at least 80 percent of the co-op's gross income originates from shareholders. If you obtained an individual mortgage to purchase your shares in the corporation (also known as a "share loan"), you are also entitled to deduct any interest paid on that loan. Finally, if you sell your shares after owning them and living in the apartment for at least two years, some or all of the profit realized on the sale may be exempt from capital gains taxes (see Selling Your Shares – Capital Gain Exclusion).
(Please note that shareholders are eligible for these tax advantages only on co-op tax years when at least 80 percent of the co-op's gross income originates from shareholders, that is, no more than 20 percent of the co-op's gross income can come from commercial sources such as the garage.)
At the beginning of every year you will receive a letter from the co-op's accountants that indicates how many dollars per share for (1) real estate tax and (2) mortgage interest you will be allowed to claim as itemized deductions on Schedule A of IRS Form 1040. You will also receive a Mortgage Interest Statement (IRS Form 1098) from our management company that indicates the exact dollar amount that you can deduct for mortgage interest (but not for real estate tax).
If you owned the shares for only part of the year, the 1098 form will reflect this. You are allowed to deduct mortgage interest and real estate tax only for that portion of the year you owned the shares.
If you were granted any real estate tax abatements or STAR credits during the year, which were reflected as maintenance credits or received by check, your real estate tax deduction must be reduced by the total amount of the abatements you received.
The interest paid on the individual mortgage (share loan) is reported on a Form 1098 sent to you by your financial institution.
Tenant-shareholders in our co-op may be eligible for a number of tax relief programs provided by the City and the State of New York.
The Cooperative and Condominium Tax Abatement provides partial tax relief to reduce the disparity in property tax paid between residential buildings and stand-alone private homes, which are assessed at a lower percentage of market value. The co-op has applied for and has been receiving this abatement since 1997, which is reflected in shareholders' maintenance bills.
Tenant-shareholders may also be entitled to the New York State School Tax Relief Program (STAR), the Senior Citizen Homeowners' Exemption (SCHE), the Veterans' Exemption, and the Disabled Homeowners' Exemption (DHE). These programs are available to shareholders whose apartment in the co-op is their primary home. Shareholders must apply for these tax relief programs personally. Once approved, the tax exemptions appear as credits in shareholders' maintenance bills. For more information and to apply, visit the website of the City of New York Department of Finance.
These tax refunds must be subtracted from the real estate taxes you declare as itemized deductions on your IRS 1040 form (see Tax Deductions).
Washing machines and dryers are not permitted in apartments so as not to overburden apartment and apartment line plumbing, and thus to prevent flooding. When you need to wash your clothes, laundry facilities are available in the basements of 31-37 Nagle Avenue and 14 Bogardus Place (see Laundry Facilities for more information). (See also Dishwashers.)
NaBors Apartments maintains a website on the Internet with lots of information on the co-op and on our neighborhood. The URL for our website is www.naborsapts.org. Comments and suggestions for improvement of the website are welcome; send them to the .
Window guards are safety devices intended to keep young children from falling out of apartment windows. By law, every apartment with children 10 years of age or younger must have them. For this reason, residents of record — tenant shareholders and sublessees/renters alike — are required to complete and return a window guard notification form. This form is sent by the management company to residents every January. You must return the completed form by February 15th. The co-op will install window guards for you at no charge if children 10 years of age or younger reside in your apartment. Please note that window guards are designed only to prevent falls, not to protect you from intruders.
Shareholders are responsible for cleaning their apartments' windows periodically. You are required to clean them or have them cleaned at the very least once every six months. You or any contractors you hire to clean your windows from the outside must abide by any laws pertaining to window cleaning. The cooperative corporation is not liable for any injuries resulting from window cleaning. For more information on this requirement, see Paragraph 30 of the Proprietary Lease.
If there are any cracked or broken window panes in your apartment, please call the superintendent to schedule a replacement, or place a written request in the communication box located in the lobby of your building.
This handbook was written, edited, published and is maintained by Eduardo Gómez with assistance from Board members and our managing agents over the years.
The co-op's financial statements can tell you about how well our co-op is doing financially. Our latest three financial statements are available here in PDF format (to view them, you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer):
| 2004 (904KB) |
2005 (403KB) |
2006 (156KB) |
Shareholders in a co-op corporation are considered by the Internal Revenue Service to be homeowners. As a shareholder, you may be entitled to deduct your share of the real estate taxes and mortgage interest paid by the cooperative. If you obtained an individual mortgage to purchase your shares in the corporation (also known as a "share loan"), you are also entitled to deduct any interest paid on that loan. Read more.
For the 2007 tax year, you may claim the following deductions:
• Mortgage Interest = $11.7113 per share
• Real Estate Tax = $13.4198 per share
Therefore, 37.4% of the maintenance charges you paid in 2007 is tax deductible. If you owned your apartment for only part of the year, you need to prorate the deduction accordingly.
If you sell your shares in the co-op, you may be able to exclude some or all of the profit realized on the sale. If you can exclude all of the gain, you do not need to report the sale on your tax return; that is, you will not have to pay any taxes on the profit. If some (or all) of the gain cannot be excluded, it is taxable as a capital gain, and you must report it on Schedule D of Form 1040. Read more.
The following forms are provided for your information and convenience. Some forms are in PDF format; to view and print them, you must have Acrobat Reader installed on your computer.
Alteration Agreement (PDF, 21KB). Reproduced here for your information is a copy of the form you may be asked to sign if you plan to make alterations or renovations in your apartment. If you plan to make alterations, you must contact our managing agent and obtain Board approval before you begin any work. For more information on the rules and regulations regarding alterations and renovations, see Paragraph 21 of the Proprietary Lease and the Alterations and Renovations entry in the Co-op Handbook.
Construction Notice (PDF, 44KB). Once you have received approval for your alteration or renovation, you must post this notice on your building's bulletin board and on your apartment door.
Request for Consent to Sublet (PDF, 43KB). To obtain the board's permission to sublet your apartment, you must submit a written, signed request via the managing agent at least 60 days in advance of the proposed starting date of the sublease. This handy form makes it easy. (Note: This form is only a request for board consent, not the sublet application itself. If you get consent, the managing agent will ask you and your proposed sublessee to fill out a sublet application.) For more information, see the Sublet Policy entry in the Co-op Handbook.
Community Room Rental Agreement (PDF, 24KB). The Community Room may be rented for a modest fee ($7 per each expected participant) for activities that are not co-op-related (such as a birthday party or religious gathering). The room is available free of charge for co-op-related activities. For more information, see the Community Room entry in the Co-op Handbook.
Emergency Information. Please send our managing agent the information requested on this form. It will be used to contact you in case of emergency or if management needs to have access to your apartment to conduct immediate repairs (for example, if a leak in your pipe is causing damage to the building or to the apartment below).
List Your Apartment for Sale. When you decide to sell your apartment, don't forget to fill out this form to have your apartment listed for sale on our Web site's Apartments for Sale page. An announcement will also be sent to our mailing list of more than 800 subscribers.
The following legal documents delineate the rights and responsibilities of shareholders (as well as tenants and sublessees) toward the co-op and toward one another.
The By-Laws (PDF, 31KB) are a written set of provisions and directions for the running of the co-op. They cover topics such as how the board of directors is elected, when membership meetings shall be held, and other issues related to the governance of the cooperative.
The Proprietary Lease (PDF, 58KB) has the terms and conditions you agreed to when you became a shareholder. If you are a tenant or sublessee, these terms and conditions flow down to you as well, since you signed a tenant's lease or a sublease, which incorporates the terms of the proprietary lease by reference.
The House Rules document forms an integral part of the Proprietary Lease. It focuses on residents' rights and responsibilities toward one another and aims to preserve a high quality of life for all residents.
The basic content and format of the By-Laws, Proprietary Lease and House Rules were set up in the original Offering Plan or Prospectus issued by the co-op's sponsor back in 1982 when our buildings went co-op. Over the years, there have been a number of Amendments to the Offering Plan.
As a resident of NaBors Apartments, you are also required to abide by all city and state laws relating to housing and home ownership. These can be accessed through the NYC.gov and New York State Web sites.
Finally, you are specifically required by the City of New York to fill out and sign the following two forms and submit them to the managing agent at the beginning of every calendar year: Lead Paint Notification Form and Window Guard Notification Form. These forms are mailed to all shareholders at the beginning of the year.
Starting with the 2006-2007 Board of Directors term, we are publishing and distributing an occasional update. The purpose of the NaBors Update is to keep shareholders informed about developments in the co-op and major decisions of the Board of Directors.
NaBors Updates:
Convenient access to useful links on the Web related to co-op living and thriving.
(Please help us create a useful resource for our residents. Send us your suggestions.)
About Co-ops:
Legal
Definition of Co-op | The
Cooperator | Council
of New York Cooperatives | Federation
of New York Housing Cooperatives & Condominiums | Habitat
Magazine | National
Association of Housing Cooperatives | New
York Cooperative
Businesses within 1/2 Mile from Our Co-op
Finances:
Financial
Calculators
Taxes:
Federal
Tax Forms | Federal
Tax Help | New
York State Tax Forms | New
York State Tax Help | New
York City Tax Forms | New
York City Tax Help | Manhattan
Resident Parking Tax Exemption
Household Maintenance and Renovation:
(Note: To make alterations and renovations in your apartment,
you must ask for approval from the Board. Contact the managing
agent for more information.) Better
Homes & Gardens Home Improvement Encyclopedia | Do
It Yourself | DIY
Network | Home & Garden
Television | Home
Depot | Hometime | ImproveNet |