Two Questions: Is the condo building normally responsible for cleaning the inside of the bathroom ceiling ventilation duct? (the inside of ours is extremely dirty and I don't even want to take the cover off it's so bad). Do we need to hire someone to clean this? Must a condo provide adequate ventilation inside a bathroom if there is no window? Our maintenance staff recently lowered our building... [more]
Two Questions:
Is the condo building normally responsible for cleaning the inside of the bathroom ceiling ventilation duct? (the inside of ours is extremely dirty and I don't even want to take the cover off it's so bad). Do we need to hire someone to clean this?
Must a condo provide adequate ventilation inside a bathroom if there is no window? Our maintenance staff recently lowered our building bathroom vents to next to nothing because someone in another apartment complained of noise from the vent fan that happened to be next to their bedroom.
I found this law here on this site: http://law.justia.com/newyork/codes/new-york-city-administrative-code-new/adc027-759_27-759.html
(1) Rooms containing only one water closet or urinal shall be
mechanically ventilated by an exhaust system capable of exhausting at
least fifty cubic feet of air per minute. Means shall be provided for
air ingress by louvres in the door, by undercutting the door, or by
transfer ducts, grilles, or other openings.
I have no clue how much fifty cubic feet of air pressure per minute is (or if this even applies to condos), but I assume it's enough to keep a shower room free of steam when the water is running hot. Ours does not and we have to keep the door open.
Advice welcome. Thanks.
[less]
Response by johnnyjai
over 15 years ago
Posts: 65
Member since: Feb 2007
50 cubic feet per minute (cfm) is a very small amount - an average computer case fan would be capable of approximately 50cfm. Most small bathroom vent fans are not capable of venting the steam during a hot shower. It is there to provide adequate ventilation. Be lucky that your bathroom even has a vent fan!
But seriously, why do you worry about the inside of a ventilation duct - and enough to warrant looking up building codes?
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by RealEstateNY
over 15 years ago
Posts: 772
Member since: Aug 2009
I have a smiliar problem, super is currently arranging to have the entire vent inspected from the roof on down.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by realestatejunkie
over 15 years ago
Posts: 259
Member since: Oct 2006
common risers (be it ventilation or otherwise) and their maintenance are generally the obligation of the coop or condo and not the unit owner...
look at your condo offering plan docs to see if there is any exception in your case
if you are looking to make a case that the ventilation is insufficient that is going to be a tough case because ventilation requirements are minimal
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by rb345
over 15 years ago
Posts: 1273
Member since: Jun 2009
If my recollection is correct, the warranty of habitability of Real Property Law section 235(b), which applies
to both rental tenants and coop shareholders, does not apply to you as a condo owner because your condo is real
property and you are the owner of it.
You might also look at Multiple Dwelling Law section 77, which deals with plumbing in multiple deweeling
buildings, and, if you have access to a law database, Pekalnaya v. Allyn (I think that's the case) a Manhattan
appeals court decision which deals with HOA v. unit owner repair responsibilities in a condomminium.
Ignored comment.
Unhide
Response by wwwapple
over 13 years ago
Posts: 0
Member since: Nov 2012
Is it req by law the single family house owner need to fix it (bathroom exhaust vent need to be outdoors) before it sell to the buyer?
50 cubic feet per minute (cfm) is a very small amount - an average computer case fan would be capable of approximately 50cfm. Most small bathroom vent fans are not capable of venting the steam during a hot shower. It is there to provide adequate ventilation. Be lucky that your bathroom even has a vent fan!
But seriously, why do you worry about the inside of a ventilation duct - and enough to warrant looking up building codes?
I have a smiliar problem, super is currently arranging to have the entire vent inspected from the roof on down.
common risers (be it ventilation or otherwise) and their maintenance are generally the obligation of the coop or condo and not the unit owner...
look at your condo offering plan docs to see if there is any exception in your case
if you are looking to make a case that the ventilation is insufficient that is going to be a tough case because ventilation requirements are minimal
If my recollection is correct, the warranty of habitability of Real Property Law section 235(b), which applies
to both rental tenants and coop shareholders, does not apply to you as a condo owner because your condo is real
property and you are the owner of it.
You might also look at Multiple Dwelling Law section 77, which deals with plumbing in multiple deweeling
buildings, and, if you have access to a law database, Pekalnaya v. Allyn (I think that's the case) a Manhattan
appeals court decision which deals with HOA v. unit owner repair responsibilities in a condomminium.
Is it req by law the single family house owner need to fix it (bathroom exhaust vent need to be outdoors) before it sell to the buyer?