Leigh Kamping-Carder

Q. Recently, my co-op board inspected the building to look for unauthorized electrical devices and discovered that I don’t have the required wall-to-wall carpeting. I use rugs—I’d previously restored my beautiful wood floors—and my downstairs neighbor has never complained about noise. However, the board wants me to install carpeting—an expense I can little afford as a retired nurse with a chronic illness. What are my rights in this situation? 

Dogs are the worst. If they're not making your apartment search harder, upping the cost of your real estate, or prompting a rule that has you carrying them across the lobby, they’re practically forcing you to let a crowd of strangers into the building.

Whether it’s the Scrooge who’d rather skip December or the evergreen enthusiast whose wreath puts the Rockefeller Center tree to shame, apartment owners tend to have strong opinions about how to decorate this time of year.