BY STEPHEN ELBAZ, NYARM
WINDOW GUARDS
Beginning March 1, managers must notify the Department of Health in writing of all residential tenants that failed to return the annual window guard notice that you delivered to them in January. As I always recommend, the best way to communicate with an agency on a paperwork matter is either certified mail - return receipt requested (mailed from the post office with a bulls eye stamp) or when time is of the essence, hand delivered with a duplicate set of documents that should be time/date stamped or signed as received.
DUE DILIGENCE
A recent Queens County court case illustrates how diligent our Process Servers must be in obtaining a proper serve. In Girard v Jennings [Civil Court Housing Part C, Hon. Cavallo], the court ruled that a tenant who lived in an illegal apartment with a plain unmarked door cannot have the case dismissed based on the fact that a process server had affixed the papers to the front door of the building, as well as mailing to the address.
GREAT PR
March is also an ideal time to prepare your summer schedule. Picnics, softball games, and other outdoor activities with residents and/or staff are great public relation events and morale boosters that cost little or nothing to stage. A Bronx property manager sponsored a "double Dutch" jump rope competition in her 250 unit complex. With only a $250.00 budget she had trophies and T-shirts donated by local suppliers. She also reported a significant (in excess of $15,000) reduction in vandalism and graffiti the summer of the competition.
Stephen Elbaz-NYARM, is Secretary of the NYARM Board of Directors and is President of Esquire Management Corporation - a full service management company in New York and New Jersey. Readers are encouraged to contact Stephen at 212-594-6500 or fax 212-594-8484 with real estate management questions, concerns, and helpful hints. Questions will be thoroughly researched and answered in this column.