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:
I'm not getting cold water from the faucets in my co-op. What should I do?
June 17, 2019 - 09:00 AM
It takes five to 10 minutes for the water in my co-op's kitchen and bathroom to get cold. The water in my kitchen can start out as high as 80 degrees when I first turn it on. The board has been no help so far. Is there a legal temperature for cold water in NYC? What can I do?
Read More Ask Sam: How much information do I have to give the landlord before I move in with my friend?
June 12, 2019 - 10:00 AM
New York Real Property Law states that a tenant must give the landlord the name of their roommate within 30 days of that roommate moving in or within 30 days of a request by the landlord. Legally speaking, then, landlords cannot request information like social security numbers, employment information, and so on. But pushing back against a nosy landlord is another question.
Read More Can I afford a starter apartment in a NYC co-op?
June 3, 2019 - 09:00 AM
Most co-ops in New York City require a down payment of 20 to 25 percent of the purchase price. Beyond that, many co-op boards also want to see that buyers have enough liquid assets to pay two years' worth of maintenance and mortgage fees.
Read More My co-op has a Local Law 11 violation. Now what?
May 28, 2019 - 09:00 AM
You'll have to hire a contractor to assess the extent of the repairs needed.
Read More Ask Sam: What are the rights of tenants in a building with a CO violation?
May 23, 2019 - 10:00 AM
My neighbors and I recently discovered that our rental building has a certificate of occupancy violation. What are our rights? Can we withhold our rent?
Read More How can I moth-proof my apartment this summer?
May 20, 2019 - 09:00 AM
Do a deep clean before you stash anything away.
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