Leigh Kamping-Carder

Q. I live in a 40-unit Brooklyn co-op, and we're trying to raise money for the building. We're thinking of selling the super's apartment and either relocating him to a smaller unit or outsourcing his job to someone off-site. What do we need to know? Also, he's unionized—will that affect how we handle this? And are there any drawbacks? 

Q. I own a three-family house, and I've been renting one of the apartments to a woman with two children who is separated from her husband. If he moves in, am I entitled to raise her rent? Can I reject the husband? The lease expired and she never asked for a renewal. 

A. Usually, you wouldn’t be able to hike the rent simply because another person moved in. However, because the lease is no longer in effect, you have some latitude, our experts say. 

In honor of the lazy first week of August—when, fingers crossed, you're lounging on a beach towel instead of hunching over a desk—we'll be running some of our best articles from the first part of this year, in case you missed 'em. If you need to brush up on how to rent, buy, sell, renovate or get a mortgage in this crazy town, now's the time. And, yes, we'll also be running plenty of new stuff. Enjoy!