Rolfing psychotherapists, personal trainers among New York's most despised neighbors
When it comes to trouble-making home-based businesses, psychiatrists and psychologists who practice out of their apartments field the most complaints from neighbors who see patients as security risks, according to a story in the May issue of Habitat Magazine (not yet available online).
Worse yet: Psychotherapists who specialize in Rolfing, a hands-on technique that can feel "like a very forceful massage." A co-op and condo attorney quoted in the story recalls one such situation in which the therapist "had complaints from every one of his neighbors when his clients started groaning at the top of their lungs."
The other home-based businesses said to draw the most frequent wrath of co-op and condo neighbors include "eBay dealers (deliveries and boxes in hallways); personal trainers with home gyms (strangers and noises); and New York's versions of bed and breakfasts....."
In an interesting legal nuance we weren't aware of, Habitat reports that the New York City zoning code apparently limits the amount of space used for a home business to 500 square feet or no more than 25% of floor space--even in apartment buildings that explicitly permit businesses in apartments.
(HabitatMag.com)
Related posts:
How to be a quiet sexy neighbor
Dealing with problem condo owners (sponsored)
My upstairs neighbor is a hoarder. What can I do?
The perfect gift for the pot-smoker next door
What to do about those prostitutes in your building