Board interview

I know it depends on the building ('hood). A UES interview will not be the same as a LES interview, broadly speaking. My interview (downtown building) was really easy. It was in the basement in the super's office. There were 3 people and me in folding chairs in a circle. They asked me about my job, was I planning renovations, was anyone else going to be living with me, was I going to have a family anytime soon. Whether these questions were legal or not, I didn't care, I had nothing to hide. It lasted about 15 minutes and everyone was laid back. Right after they said, "well lets introduce you to the super" - that was their way of telling me they were going to approve me. Now, I know in some really uptight buildings uptown they can be a LOT tougher and very snooty, I have even heard stories that they will scrutinize your clothes and jewelry. Hope that helps.

"was I going to have a family anytime soon"

Definitely not legal.

Eek. I doubt the building is the type to scrutinize over my clothing (and lack of men's) jewelry. The building is UES. Yes, there will be renovations and someone living with me. I guess I'd like to know what they expect to hear about such matter in detail when they ask. Obviously renovations are a separate matter to be discussed after the transfer (remember, its by will/estate) so if anything I just presume they'd be curious about intentions. Someone living with me.. in particular my partner.. to what should they be questioning.

I would definately be extremely UPFRONT about renovations -- last thing you want is to buy the place and get your renovations declined --

if you're planning to tell the board that someone will be living with you, it would make sense to bring that person. you should have also included that person in your board package at least to some extent. tread water lightly with this issue.

when i was inteviewing, i said that i will be asking my girlfriend to move in with me and hope she says 'yes'. this way, there was no way they can tell me to bring her in.

Does anyone have some light to shed on the differences between a 'normal' interview vs one where its a transfer from to an heir of an estate? I know the sensitivity should be treated the same way but I don't think its appropriate for me to bring my partner into the interview process if he will not be on the deed. Mind you, my family has been in the building for 25+ years but I have met very very few people besides the staff... if that makes a difference.

Be honest, dress appropriately, ask few if any questions and simply answer theirs. Yeah every building is different. Clients had a board interview (West side) just off the park in a prewar DM building recently. Took a month and a half to get there, 5 minutes for the interview. Customer called me after wards and commented "it was a joke" considering how long they had to wait to get it.

I guess they have already scrutinized your financial's? I have heard of a few estate transfers that did not go through because the heir did not have sufficient assets/income to meet the boards guidelines, even though the property was essentially "gifted" to them.

If your partner will be living with you he should probably be at the interview. I would check with the managing agent to see if they will want a board application as well.

You're a guy? Shave. Don't wear aftershave or smoke beforehand. Wear a suit and a tie. Carry a copy of your application with you in a nice briefcase. Make sure your socks match. If you do occasionally wear a wedding ring, wear it.

For the board to turn you down on the basis of sexual orientation is illegal, and for them to ask you about marital status is illegal, but it's well within their rights to ask who's going to live in the apartment.

Therefore the strategy is: answer the questions they ask you, but don't volunteer information. If you're not married and they ask if someone is going to be living with you, and someone is, I would answer that truthfully: "my partner of xx years, he's an XX {profession}, but you can see I am financially qualified to carry this unit on my own because I earn XX" and then steer the conversation back to your financial qualifications.

I work for a gay-owned firm (I'm straight & married) and we have seen a couple of turndowns based on sexual orientation in our nearly twenty-five year history, but it's thankfully getting less and less common. I would really just be polite to the board, thank them for their time (they don't get paid to interview you) and I'm sure it will be fine.

ali r.
DG Neary Realty

Ali; gay, straight or other don't you think the board will want to meet his/her partner that will be living there? Perhaps even some paperwork...maybe?

Well Keith, on a typical co-op app. from one of the big managing agents, there would be a question "people who will be living in your apartment besides yourself" .. the managing agent would see the answer to that question, and then, when notifying the applicant of an interview, would indicate who had to show up, and it wouldn't necessarily be everyone on the form.

Real-life example: a 60-year-old couple who indicated that their 21-year-old would be home from college and resident with them wasn't asked for the kid's presence at the board interview.

Since we are not the OP's brokers we don't know what he put on that form, or if he even filled it out. However, it sounds possible that the question wasn't asked -- in which case I wouldn't advise a client to volunteer the answer.

However, I don't advocate lying either, so I think that someone who habitually wears a wedding ring should wear one.

ali r.

@ali: I disagree with you on this one. If I knew my client was going to be living with someone, I would want to be clear from the get go what the board would expect. I would not want to surprise them at the actual interview and risk a delay or at worst a rejection.

If this was addressed in the OP's application (box checked, name supplied) I agree you are covered.

Kids away at college, stay at home part of the year; I agree...never had a board request that they be interviewed.

A couple buying a unit in a building all cash, allowing their daughter to live there ; They wanted a board package and her at the interview. (This last month)

This is an estate transfer without any cash involved. There is no mortgage and the financial commitments are exclusively the monthlies. The application was filled out as simply myself as there is no intention to make him a joint shareholder (at this time) for various reasons. As I understand it, at least in this building, he would have to be a to be on the lease.. and i'm guessing they would request him to be on the lease if involved at this stage.

There is no agent involved beside the management agency given the situation.. so no one giving much advice so thank you.

I obviously wouldn't want tension later on.. or be damned with the board feeling pissed and implementing strict policies on treating him with guest rules and stay limitations... but the fact of the matter is I can't make him a shareholder at this point in our relationship/life either.

" gay, straight or other don't you think the board will want to meet his/her partner that will be living there? Perhaps even some paperwork...maybe?"

Unless the partner is providing funds to buy the apartment and will be on the title, the partner is really none of the board's business and there is no reason to mention them to the board.

We're obviously getting into an area of board politics here, so I think to some extent which building it is, and what the board's expectations are, matter. In Steven Gaines' book "The Sky's the Limit" he brings up the bit -- which he never really verifies -- that Bill Blass got into One Sutton Place South by promising never to have overnight guests. That, shockingly, was less than twenty years ago.

But I think you're committed to a course here: you're a single man, you're financially qualified to inherit this apartment, and if the board asks you, you're just thrilled about inheriting the apartment that meant so much to your family. If the board asks you if you have a family, and you are not married and do not have kids, then the answer is "no."

If the board asks you if you plan to live with anyone, then the answer is plainly "yes," and I would say that, playing that point just as I've outlined above.

Would be really interested to hear from people who serve on boards here: Kylewest? Matt?

ali r.

I'm not a broker, but I would imagine that it wouldn't be that different than a job interview situation where you are in a room being interviewed by several people at one time. Of course, you want to dress professionally- wear a suit and look as neat as possible in your appearance. If it were me, I would try to stay as calm as possible even if you feel that the board is asking you something which may not be entirely legal or appropriate. Sometimes people come from different backgrounds or there are age differences. For example, when I went to school in the South, I had an internship at a government office and this older man in the office asked me about "where my people came from". Being Jewish and young at the time, I misconstrued what he was asking and thought it was anti-seminitic but I was wrong about him. He was a very friendly and nice man and it's just the way that people spoke in that area- asking about "your people". I didn't react to what he said at the time and I'm glad that I didn't because I misunderstood his question. From my understanding of coops, they want to know quite a bit about you before you move in and I would imagine that some of what they ask can feel a little uncomfortable. I'm not saying to answer anything they ask, just to react as calmly as possible to any questions posed.

Thanks for all the advise. Kyle/Matt.. or anyone else on boards.. I'd love to hear your take on it.

Our board packs require that you list any occupants but that does not make them part of the lease. They do require however that the person be present at the interview. We will generally spend most of the interview focusing on financials (although they have been well vetted before) and may ask a few "character" questions of both of you.

If your partner has not been requested to attend, you may still wish to ask the managing agent to avoid any surprises. I own our apartment in my name alone but we both attended the interview. Can't remember if it was specifically requested of us at the time or if the broker told us to both show. In any event, I now know for sure that we interview all occupants.

By all means tell them the truth, don't attempt to hide any material facts and if/when the show their true colors, dump the co-op and buy a condo so you never have to tolerate this intrusive BS again. Condos are like divorce - they cost more because they are worth it.

lo888 - what would you have done if listing them as an occupant mandated their inclusion on the lease.. and subsequently meant they had to be a shareholder? Seems so strange since once occupied, i assume anyone could 'move in' with you as a significant other or even roommate.

Are you sure that's the requirement? Seems odd to tell you who should own the apartment. I would state that my partner will be living with me but will not be a Shareholder. The financial burden (and ownership) will entirely fall on me but if you would like to meet my partner as well since he will be a resident, he would be very happy to attend.

If you have a "partner" then I would not tell the baord about them. Many boards will not like the fact that your living with someone your not married to. I see absolutely no benefit to telling the board about someone who has no financial stake in the apt. Once your partner moves in, what will the baord do, throw them out? They can't.

You will sit on a chair or the couch as will others -- it is usually 4-6 people in my experience (as low as two). It was friendly, polite and they are happy to have you buying into their building. Relax.

"Unless the partner is providing funds to buy the apartment and will be on the title, the partner is really none of the board's business and there is no reason to mention them to the board."

Absolutely wrong. We have the right to know exactly who will be living in the unit.

Do NOT keep the fact that you're living with someone a secret to the board. At the very least, it will create bad blood with the board, who can make life VERY unhappy for you in the future if you ever want to do any kind of renovation in your apartment (or even if you wish to replace a light fixture -- we could require you hire a licensed electrician, for instance).

"Unless the partner is providing funds to buy the apartment and will be on the title, the partner is really none of the board's business and there is no reason to mention them to the board."

Correct. That is the whole point of an interview in first place.

Miette
1 day ago
ignore this person
report abuse "was I going to have a family anytime soon"

Definitely not legal.

I am not an attorney, but I don't think that this is correct either. I am pretty sure it is entirely within their rights to ask if you plan to start a family soon. They might not want to have 3 people living in a one bedroom apartment (or studio)

It is confusing. If I am 38 single man with a girlfriend, whether I tell the board/managing agent/ or my neighbors would not even be an issue. If I am single without partner and the day after the interview I fell in love and began dating seriously and by closing decided to move in together- the board has no standing. So the question is really an ethical question that the writer has for himself. My advise- don't tell until asked. You should never hide but do not confuse privacy (which you are entitled to) with not being true to yourself or the board. It is none of their business until they make it their business and ask..

true....but you don't not want a board on your side if you want to eventually renovate/rent/sell your apartment.

Every board package I have ever seen asks. And usually there is a cover letter to the package with instructions regarding who needs to submit a package and that is usually anyone who will be living in the apartment as a full time resident,with the exception of kids. Every building is different though, my point has been it is better to simply ask the managing agent what the buildings protocol is.

Some coops don't require an application from a partner, but will want them at the interview. Some will want a complete package and interview and some wont care either way. But in my opinion it is prudent to know what your board will want before going in. Remember we are talking NYC co-ops here, some will want a letter verifying you have a trained dog and will want the dog at the interview.

If you truly care about personal liberty, you don't want to live in a co-op. But since OP has inherited this apartment He/She doesn't seem to have a choice.

Thanks Keith. You're right. Don't really have a choice other than to drop the apartment on the market which isn't something i'm prepared to do for various reasons.

Does anyone see any problems that could arise from introducing my partner to the board if his financials are not strong but has absolutely no claim to the lease/shares? With an interview pending I really don't want to have it canceled so that my partner could prepare a package that is irrelevant and frankly insufficient anyway.

In general, I don't believe a board would really be in the position to turn down my application for anything other than financial reasons with a transfer from an heir who has passed. I think the exact wording is something like 'consent shall not unreasonably be withheld with respect to an assignment to a financially responsible member of the immediate family'. Talk about a bad precedence for people living in the building.

"They might not want to have 3 people living in a one bedroom apartment (or studio)."

Is this common? We're a family of 3 (my wife, me and a 7-year-old). We can't afford a 2 BR and are looking to buy a 1 BR. Our daughter would get the BR and my wife and I would sleep in the LR or dining alcove if there is one.

I'm assuming that if you get as far as the interview then your financial info is already OK with the board and they're just trying to get a feel for what you're like.

@gobri

I really don't see that the board can argue that your partner's financials are relevant here. They might want to meet him because he'll be living there, but it does sound like he's not cause for a turndown unless they bring him in and he's active obnoxious.

@jjkatz, you are correct..by the time you get an interview you're 80 percent there. BTW, my husband and I lived in a studio for five years.

ali
646-322-6150

"In general, I don't believe a board would really be in the position to turn down my application for anything other than financial reasons with a transfer from an heir who has passed."

Not true at all.

The board is always in a position to turn down anyone's application for any reason.

And they're not obligated to tell you that reason, either.

"Absolutely wrong. We have the right to know exactly who will be living in the unit.

Do NOT keep the fact that you're living with someone a secret to the board. At the very least, it will create bad blood with the board, who can make life VERY unhappy for you in the future if you ever want to do any kind of renovation in your apartment (or even if you wish to replace a light fixture -- we could require you hire a licensed electrician, for instance)."

Who the hell goes through the baord approval process just to replace a light fixture?

and if you don't tell the baord about your partner, there is really nothing they can do. They are not going to evict you. And if they say anything, you can always just say that you met them AFTER you moved in. Lots of people meet a singificant other AFTER the move in.

"Who the hell goes through the baord approval process just to replace a light fixture?"

Those people who deceive the board during their interview.

LOL, but how would you even know they were replacing a light fixture?

Co-op baords are lame. They still have CRT tvs and use checks at stores.

"And they're not obligated to tell you that reason, either."

Honestly won't get that far but I truly doubt with the transfer clauses written the way they are for estate transfers that a court wouldn't rule that they need to disclose their reasoning. After all 'consent shall not unreasonably be withheld .. to a financially responsible member of the immediate family'. Not looking to get that far but i'm sure a board would have to go through a little more transparent behavior at the very least.

"Honestly won't get that far but I truly doubt with the transfer clauses written the way they are for estate transfers that a court wouldn't rule that they need to disclose their reasoning."

No court has ever ruled this.

"'consent shall not unreasonably be withheld .. to a financially responsible member of the immediate family'."

We'll just say you're not "financially responsible".