Live-In Super Legally Required?
I am on the board of a 40 unit coop. We are anticipating the retirement of our super and we have heard that a live-in super is legally required for a building of this size. Is this true? Anyone know where I could learn more about such regulations?
I am on the board of a 40 unit coop. We are anticipating the retirement of our super and we have heard that a live-in super is legally required for a building of this size. Is this true? Anyone know where I could learn more about such regulations?
I, too, think you should be ok, unless the building happens to have renters who are in the habit of phoning 311.
I think you should be OK. Highly doubt any inspector from the city will challenge you on that or issue fines.
Thanks for the responses.
I’m looking at the Housing Maintenance Code. It says janitorial services = cleaning, maintenance, minor repairs, provision of heat and hot water, removal of garbage and removal of snow.
It says that the owner (ie, in the case of a coop, the corporation) shall either perform the services if he or she is a resident owner, or provide a janitor, who must live within 200 feet of the building. The name, address, and phone number of the provider of janitorial services must be posted.
My building is entirely self-managed. All Board members live in the building. We arrange all of our own repairs and take care of the boiler ourselves. Our janitor’s duties are limited to cleaning and garbage removal, and his pay is commensurately low (about $7500/year). Board members all have keys to the boiler room, and our names and numbers are all posted.
In other words, we are a co-op that relies on the cooperative labor of our members. We ask all shareholders to act like owners, even if we are all technically renters.
I think I feel comfortable that we would be complying with the spirit if not the letter of the law were we to forego a live-in ‘super’…
Thanks again to all who wrote back!
See Housing Maintenace Code
In this size building, needs to either live in building or within 200′ –
Also, super for this section is not what you think it is and for purposes of HM code, a co-op is NOT owner occupied – It is owned by a corporation
See Housing Maintenace Code
In this size building, needs to either live in building or within 200′ –
Also, super for this section is not what you think it is and for purposes of HM code, a co-op is NOT owner occupied – It is owned by a corporation
what kens said, check with your mmgt co, but I agree no live-in required for another reason. If I am not mistaken the law requires a live-in super for NON-owner occupied property. Since the coop is owner-occupied, not needed.
I think the legal requirement is over 51 or 57 units and even then it’s not a requirement. I think the requirement is that there should be 24/7 access to boiler and other rooms that contain pipes and electrical boxes in the building so say a board president can hold the key(s) given he/she is home during the day or any other board member who is retired and mostly at the property. I think your management company should know the law or seems like someone else can chime in.