Entries in the 'Housing Law' Category ↓

Unique aspects of co-op ownership

Cooperative or co-op housing is a very different legal arrangement than owning a condominium.  This difference tends to confuse people because the units or dwellings of both co-op and condominiums can be virtually identical; it is the legal difference that sets them apart.

A co-op housing development is owned by a corporation, and people who “own” units in a co-op development really own shares in the larger corporation.   The corporation then is responsible for the building’s property taxes and mortgage payment, and the co-op owners pay a monthly maintenance fee that supports maintenance of the building.

Co-ops are run by an elected board of directors, and this board makes all of the rules, in accordance with higher legislative authority, about who can become a resident, or buy-in, to the co-op and how the co-op will be maintained.  There is a large discrepancy among boards—some boards have very strict regulations and some are more casual and allow people to sublet their units for extended periods of time. Thus, any disputes regarding Cooperative housing law should be handled by an expert attorney.

Owning a condominium

Owning a condo unit is a much more traditional type of real estate transaction and property ownership arrangement.  When someone purchases a condo, they are purchasing the actual unit and they receive the title and deed to that particular property.

Condominium properties also typically have boards, but their role is slightly different than that of a co-op board.  The condo board will make property management and maintenance decisions but the business arrangement is different.  Condo board members own their own property and are not shareholders.

Finally, condo owners are subject to pay their own property taxes on their unit and typically pay a monthly maintenance fee to keep up the common areas and pay for things like snow removal and security.

Call 1-866-967-9279 for help with co-op housing law.

This Article Provided By:
Fowler, Hein, Cheatwood & Williams
2970 Clairmont Road, Park Central, Suite 220
Atlanta, GA 30329

Donal Sterling whom owns about 120 apartment buildings in Los Angeles County settles a case filed against him for discriminating against African Americans and Hispanics. He is also owner of the National Basketball Association’s Los Angeles Clippers, and agreed to pay $2.73 million to settle a U.S. government lawsuit accusing him of housing discrimination. Most of these apartment housing complexes are in the Koreatown section of Los Angeles.

The payment is the largest ever obtained by the U.S. government in a discrimination case involving apartment rentals, the Justice Department said today in a statement.

“Housing is a basic human need, and yet decades after passage of the Fair Housing Act, far too many still encounter barriers like discrimination,” Assistant Attorney General Thomas E. Perez said in the statement. “The magnitude of this settlement should send a message to all landlords that we will vigorously pursue violations of the Fair Housing Act.”

Article provided by Bradley & Gmelich an employment law firm in Los Angeles. If you need help settling an employment lawsuit in Los Angeles contact an attorney now.

National and Local Legislation

Housing law is like any other kind of legislative mandate in that it falls under the realm of both federal and local authority. Generally speaking, everyone across the country is required to adhere to the same federal housing law that regulates housing eligibility, property ownership rights and obligations, and anti-discrimination directives.

There are, however, additional local laws that apply to particular to the state, county, and city in which a housing property is located. These local laws perform a very vital function of further defining property ownership rights to the specific needs of the locality:

• Water & sewer usage
• Land-use and zoning
• Leasing eligibility
• Tax requirements
• Developmental requirements

While there are many similarities among many of our country’s cities and towns, each municipality has unique features that influence its corresponding housing legislation. These differences are important and different legislation is beneficial to town residents because it keeps people from navigating and abiding by legislation that does not apply to their location.

The Benefits of Using a Local Housing Lawyer

FHC&W is an Atlanta-based housing law firm that strongly advocates the use of local legal counsel to help in matters of housing law. The housing lawyers at our practice operate a national practice and are well-researched in the federal laws that regulate all housing transactions and the Atlanta laws that affect our clients’ cases.

Coming to a case armed with the legal insight of federal and local housing and apartment law allows us to meet our clients’ needs at a much faster and more efficient pace. Contact our firm if you are in need of counsel during a housing dispute in the Atlanta-area. We look forward to promptly addressing your issues.

This article has been provided by Fowler, Hein, Cheatwood & Williams, Professional Association:

Park Central Suite 220
2970 Clairmont Road
Atlanta, Georgia 30329-1634