Alanna Schubach
Contributing writer
Contributing editor Alanna Schubach has over a decade of experience as a New York City-based freelance journalist. She has written about real estate for Brick Underground, Mansion Global, and Barron's. She has also contributed features, essays, and op-eds to The Nation, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Village Voice. She won a National Association of Real Estate Editors’ silver award in 2018 for her Ask an Expert column for Brick Underground. She is also a fiction writer and a creative writing teacher, and currently lives in Brooklyn.
Posts by Alanna Schubach:
Ask Sam: What are the rules for evicting rent-stabilized tenants in NYC?
December 8, 2021 - 13:30 PM
Rent-stabilized tenants can only be evicted under specific circumstances, such as using your apartment as a non-primary residence or illegal subletting. Read on for more situations that could result in an eviction.
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Do I have to pay for heat in my NYC rental apartment?
December 6, 2021 - 14:00 PM
Renters in gas-heated buildings typically do not pay for heat directly—it is covered by their rent—while renters who have electric heat with separate meters do, according to Brick's experts.
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My co-op board approved funds to fix flood damage, but management won't pay up. What can I do?
November 29, 2021 - 13:30 PM
After flood damage from an upstairs neighbor's bathroom, a co-op board approved $14,000 toward the owner's expenses but the management company refuses to pay up. What can the owner do?
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Ask Sam: My landlord is taking me to housing court. What can I expect?
November 24, 2021 - 09:30 AM
Housing court reopened in mid-October, but due to a significant backlog, it will take longer to resolve cases, says attorney Sam Himmelstein, giving tenants more time to prepare a defense.
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My co-op won't let my daughter bring her dog when she visits. What can I do?
November 22, 2021 - 13:30 PM
A co-op's pet policies should be outlined in the building's house rules—a good reason to take a close look before you move in. Many co-ops do forbid pets over a certain size, or have specific rules preventing owners from bringing pets into common spaces.
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I renewed my lease with no rent increase. Why do I have to pay extra for a new major capital improvement?
November 15, 2021 - 12:30 PM
Owners of buildings with rent-stabilized units are allowed to raise your rent for a major capital improvement, but only by a maximum of 2 percent.
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