Recent News:
Leni Cummins appears on CNN to discuss what could happen to Donald Trump’s properties if New York State Attorney General Letitia James decides to seize Trump’s assets in lieu of the $454 million fine Trump said he cannot meet.
Leni has extensive experience representing both the sponsor-developers of condominiums (condos) and cooperatives (co-ops), as well as condo, co-op, and community association boards. Her work on behalf of sponsor-developers deeply informs her work on behalf of boards — and vice versa. She routinely advises clients on plans for new construction and condominium conversions and has extensive experience negotiating issues pertaining to construction, development, and statutory compliance. She is well known for her ability to resolve contentious disputes between sponsor-developers and boards, and frequently mediates fraud claims under the Martin Act before the New York State Office of the Attorney General.
More specifically, Leni represents sponsor-developers at every stage of the new construction or conversion process. She focuses on preventing liability before the first shovel enters the ground and often leads discussions with boards on behalf of sponsor-developers to resolve issues before they escalate. Leni represents condo and co-op boards with respect to construction defects, underfunding, fraud, compliance, and governance. She also provides ongoing general counsel to boards in their day-to-day management of condo and co-op properties. She has experience with crisis management, mediation, negotiation, litigation, and general legal counseling, and her goal is to achieve practical solutions quickly and efficiently.
Leni is a regular contributor to The New York Times and has provided legal commentary on CNN. She has also written articles published in the New York Law Journal, the New York State Bar Association Real Property Law Journal, Real Estate Weekly, Habitat Magazine, The Cooperator, and The Mann Report.
Leni has been recognized by The New York Times Magazine as one of the “Top Women Attorneys” in the New York Metro Area, by Crain’s New York Business as a 2021 Notable Woman in Law, and by The National Law Journal as a Real Estate & Construction Trailblazer. Leni is a 2023 New York Law Journal Innovation Award recipient. She has also been named a Women Leader in Law by ALM Media. Leni has been selected as a Super Lawyer, ranking in the top 5 percent of attorneys in the New York Metro Area, has been ranked "AV Preeminent" by Martindale-Hubbell®, and was named an Influencer in Multifamily by GlobeSt.
Leni chairs and moderates the well-known Hot Topics Affecting Cooperatives & Condominiums panel sponsored by the New York City Bar Association twice annually, as well as the annual Current Governance Issues in Cooperatives & Condominiums panel. Both are a can’t-miss for condo and co-op practitioners in New York City.
Leni earned her B.A., with honors, from the University of Michigan and her J.D., cum laude, from New York Law School. She is admitted to practice law in the states of New York and Connecticut.
News
March 25, 2024
Leni Cummins appears on CNN to discuss what could happen to Donald Trump’s properties if New York State Attorney General Letitia James decides to seize Trump’s assets in lieu of the $454 million fine Trump said he cannot meet.
March 24, 2024
Leni Cummins was quoted in a New York Times article discussing former President Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial and what the judgment means for his properties.
January 09, 2024
Leni Cummins discusses concerns raised by an individual residing in a gated community with CooperatorNews.
January 05, 2024
Leni Cummins provides insight into a scenario where a shareholder seeks protection from a board's potential abuse of authority in imposing fines, citing instances where fines lack definition in bylaws, the "Failure to Adhere" clause is bypassed, and excessive fines are applied without warning or discussion in Q&A with CooperatorNews.
November 29, 2023
With condos and co-ops changing owners, property managers, and boards several times throughout their lifetime, shareholders are often left asking who bears the responsibility of maintenance and repairs for renovations made by previous owners.
November 14, 2023
New York City real estate professionals’ confidence in the city’s short-term future dropped by a quarter since last year, while pessimism tripled, according to a survey conducted by the law firm of Cozen O’Connor.
October 31, 2023
NEW YORK, October 31, 2023 – Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice and chair of the firm’s Condominium & Cooperative Practice, has been named a fellow of the American Bar Foundation.
October 19, 2023
NEW YORK CITY, August 19, 2023 – Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice, has been named an Influencer in Multifamily by GlobeSt. This recognition honors individuals who have played a vital role in shaping the multifamily industry and its future.
September 29, 2023
Leni Cummins discusses her proudest achievements over the past year upon receiving the New York Law Journal's 2023 Innovation Award.
September 22, 2023
Thirteen attorneys were recognized as Super Lawyers and 14 were named “Rising Stars.”
August 23, 2023
Leni Cummins provides insight into a situation that constitutes a clear breach of contract based on the offering plan, which is a contract between the sponsor and buyers, in a Q&A session with CooperatorNews.
August 16, 2023
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice,has been named an Innovation Award recipient by the New York Law Journal.
August 08, 2023
Leni Morrison Cummins discusses a co-op's oversight with alteration pass-along charges, resulting in costly consequences in Habitat Magazine.
June 28, 2023
Leni Cummins offers guidance on efficiently managing issues related to the superintendent of your condominium or co-op in The New York Times. In this article, Leni discusses an instance where the super has violated the ban on smoking in public spaces and the Clean Indoor Air Act by smoking in his basement office, which is considered a common space and a workplace.
June 20, 2023
Leni Morrison Cummins discusses the allocation of expenses between residential and commercial portions of mixed-use condominiums, emphasizing the significance of comprehending the established allocation methodology and its practical application on Habitat's Legal Talk podcast.
June 20, 2023
Leni Morrison Cummins addresses the common challenges owners face in getting necessary work and repairs from developers when dealing with new construction projects in The New York Times.
March 01, 2023
Leni Cummins provides insights into the intricacies of managing estate sales with condo and co-op boards in a Q&A session with CooperatorNews.
February 25, 2023
Leni Morrison Cummins is quoted in The New York Times discussing options for co-op tenants experiencing noise disturbances.
January 24, 2023
Leni Cummins is quoted in a Law360 article discussing the recent increase in fires caused by lithium-ion batteries in New York City. While Leni is not aware of any confirmed lithium-ion explosions among her condo and co-op clients, she believes it is crucial for condo and coop boards to have conversations about implementing e-bike and scooter regulations as a preventative measure.
December 19, 2022
New York, December 19, 2022 – Cozen O’Connor and its affiliate, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, announce the release of an innovative short documentary, “New York City: What’s Ahead? A Real Estate Perspective,” with keen observations about this current unprecedented and transformative period.
December 14, 2022
Leni Morrison Cummins is quoted in a Bisnow article that addresses the recent rise in the number of fires caused by malfunctioning batteries and chargers for electronic bikes in New York City. In the article, Leni discusses what this means for building boards and property owners. Research shows that e-bike sales increased by 145% during the pandemic and have caused serious safety concerns.
November 22, 2022
Leni Cummins discusses how condo, co-op, and homeowner association (HOA) boards are grappling with issues related to political signage and messaging in the current divisive political climate in a Q&A session with CooperatorNews.
September 24, 2022
Leni Cummins is quoted in The New York Times discussing the complexities behind homeowners in New York City seeking financial remedies for building inconveniences.
April 02, 2022
Leni Cummins is quoted in The New York Times discussing the current demand for electric cars and how state laws will eventually have to make accommodations to this demand.
December 20, 2021
Leni Cummins discusses what condominium and cooperative boards should disclose to its shareholders, and when boards should do so in Habitat.
November 24, 2021
Leni Cummins discusses the recent bill signed by Governor Kathy Hochul that will require co-op and condo boards to pay prevailing wages to their building staffers in order to receive the coveted property tax abatement in Habitat Magazine.
September 15, 2021
Leni Cummins discusses imminent changes that are a result of Senate bill S6350A that was signed by Governor Kathy Hochul and will limit the tax abatement to those residing in condos and co-ops that pay their service employees the prevailing wage in Habitat Magazine.
June 03, 2021
Leni Cummins discusses the push to mandate the COVID vaccine for public-facing employees such as doormen and concierge throughout New York City in New York Magazine’s Curbed.
April 23, 2021
Leni Cummins addresses the Elliman Property Management breach and what it means to condominium boards and their employees in The Real Deal.
March 12, 2021
As the number of New Yorkers eligible to receive the vaccine continues to grow, Leni Cummins addresses whether condo and co-op boards discussions on mandating that building workers be inoculated is within a board’s rights in The Real Deal.
February 23, 2021
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss whether boards can require employees hired directly by the condo or co-op to get a COVID-19 in order to maintain employment in The Cooperator.
February 06, 2021
Leni Cummins discusses important considerations for New York coops as boards begin to discuss whether building staff, as well as periodic workers such as contractors or housekeepers, will be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine in The New York Times.
December 22, 2020
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member of Cozen O'Connor’s Real Estate Practice, has been named a 2021 Notable Woman in Law by Crain’s New York Business.
December 01, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses whether cooperatives are required to pay employees who take a vacation in a state listed on New York's COVID-19 quarantine list, therefore requiring the employee to self-quarantine for 14 days upon return in The Cooperator.
November 10, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses the challenges confronting New York City condominiums and coops with retail property in light of the COVID-19 pandemic in The Real Deal.
November 04, 2020
Leni Morrison Cummins was quoted in an article published in The Real Deal titled “Court Puts Condo Investors on the Hook for Shoddy Construction.”
October 20, 2020
New York – October 20, 2020 – Leni Morrison Cummins, a member of Cozen O'Connor’s Real Estate Practice, has been named a 40 Under 40 Rising Star by City & State New York.
June 23, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses what measures condominium and coop boards should take in preparation for the potential second wave of the coronavirus in The Real Deal.
June 19, 2020
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O'Connor’s Real Estate Practice, was named a 2020 “On the Rise – Top 40 Lawyer” by the American Bar Association’s (ABA) Young Lawyers Division.
June 12, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses efforts condo and coop boards can take now to protect and prepare themselves for a possible second wave of the virus in Habitat magazine.
April 08, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses how the CARES Act could impact condos and co-ops in Law360.
April 02, 2020
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O'Connor’s Real Estate Practice, was named a Real Estate & Construction Trailblazer by the National Law Journal.
March 31, 2020
Leni Cummins is quoted in Habitat Magazine on how condo and co-op boards should handle residents who refuse to comply with social-distancing and self-quarantine edicts.
March 26, 2020
Leni Cummins comments on actions that condo and co-op boards can take if their residents do not follow social distancing or quarantine advisements in The Real Deal.
March 17, 2020
Leni Cummins comments on how New York City high-rise, residential buildings can manage coronavirus anxiety and potential exposure in The Real Deal.
March 14, 2020
Leni Cummins explains what to do when a co-op shareholder needs to make repairs to her apartment in a New York Times article.
March 09, 2020
Leni Cummins is quoted in the Commercial Observer on the Attorney General’s granted request to extend the deadline to respond to the real estate industry’s lawsuit against the brokers’ fee ban in New York.
February 18, 2020
Leni Cummins comments on the impact of the Department of State’s (DOS) issued guidance on tenant-paid broker fees in the Commercial Observer.
February 14, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss Governor Andrew Cuomo’s pocket-veto of a bill that would have required condominium and cooperative boards to pay building employees a prevailing wage or lose a property tax abatement.
February 13, 2020
Leni Cummins comments on Governor Andrew Cuomo’s pocket-veto of a bill that would remove a property tax abatement from condominium and cooperative homeowners in larger buildings in which building service workers did not receive prevailing wage in an article in The Real Deal.
February 11, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses the temporary injunction against the Department of State’s guidance on tenant-paid broker commissions in an article on GlobeSt.com.
February 07, 2020
Leni Cummins is quoted in Real Estate Weekly on The New York Department of State’s legal guidance on tenant-paid broker fees. As a part of the Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act that was passed last summer, landlords are now prohibited from charging tenants for broker fees. The real estate industry is challenging the legality of the guidance.
February 06, 2020
Leni Cummins is quoted in the New York Post on a recent guidance memo issued by the New York Department of State which dictates that tenants cannot be charged broker fees in certain circumstances.
February 06, 2020
Leni Cummins comments on the court’s decision to grant a temporary restraining order against guidance from the Department of State that prevents landlords, in certain circumstances, from collecting broker fees from tenants in a Multi-Housing News article.
February 06, 2020
Leni Cummins explains how new guidance from the New York Department of State could impact landlords in an article in Law 360.
December 30, 2019
Leni Cummins discusses the issues and irregularities that are all too often uncovered when a condominium boards takes over from sponsors and steps boards can take to protect themselves in Habitat Magazine.
June 06, 2019
Leni Cummins explains why it is important for condo/co-op board members to govern in accordance with the corporate documents in The Cooperator.
April 04, 2019
Leni Cummins discusses what happens when joint tenants of a co-op disagree on selling the shared property in The Cooperator.
September 21, 2018
Super Lawyers has named 17 Cozen O'Connor attorneys to its 2018 New York Super Lawyers and Rising Stars list. Twelve were recognized as Super Lawyers and five were named "Rising Stars."
August 27, 2018
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice, discusses the allocation of co-op expenses to pay for common costs in The New York Times.
November 09, 2017
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses what information cooperative and condominium boards are required to provide to shareholders and unit owners in The Cooperator New York.
October 19, 2017
Super Lawyers has named 12 attorneys at Cozen O’Connor to its 2017 lists of top practitioners in the New York metro area. Six were recognized as Super Lawyers and six were named “Rising Stars,” a list that recognizes attorneys under the age of 40.
May 12, 2017
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses the rise in political signage on condominium and cooperative units and the legal implications for their boards in The Cooperator.
February 28, 2017
Leni Cummins discusses the rules and regulations related to disclosure for condominium and cooperative unit sales in The Cooperator.
January 19, 2017
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses the process of replacing co-op board members and presidents in The Cooperator.
October 05, 2016
The 2016 New York Metro edition of Super Lawyers Magazine, published by Thomson Reuters, has named 21 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its list of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
September 10, 2016
Leni Cummins, a member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate Practice Group, discusses building exterior inspection regulations in The New York Times.
April 25, 2016
Leni Cummins discusses a new U.S. Treasury Department regulation in Habitat Magazine.
April 21, 2016
Leni Cummins discusses a significant victory for the Manhattan Modern 23 condominium board in the Commercial Observer.
April 01, 2016
Leni Cummins addresses a cooperative shareholder's concerns about his board's new policies in The Cooperator.
February 20, 2016
Leni Cummins discusses the allocation of common expenses in cooperatives in The New York Times and Habitat.
February 13, 2016
Leni Cummins, member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate practice group, discusses building maintenance responsibilities in The New York Times.
January 19, 2016
Leni Cummins, member of Cozen O'Connor's Real Estate practice group, discusses drone usage by condominiums and cooperatives in The Cooperator.
October 05, 2015
The 2015 New York Metro edition of Super Lawyers Magazine, published by Thomson Reuters, has named 21 Cozen O’Connor attorneys to its list of Super Lawyers and Rising Stars.
October 01, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins is quoted in The Cooperator on condo boards implementing fun ideas for their community.
September 30, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins is quoted in The Cooperator on condo unit owners abiding by a condo board's declaration and bylaws.
September 19, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins was quoted in the New York Times article,
June 13, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins discusses a co-op board responsibility in responding to harassment allegations and the potential breach of warranty of habitability in the Ask Real Estate column of The New York Times.
May 25, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Practice Group, discusses the legality of a cooperative board member assuming the role of spokesperson and sending email communications to all members in The Cooperator.
March 05, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, is quoted in The Cooperator, on an article discussing the answer of who pays for a water leak in a cooperative apartment.
February 07, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, participates in a Q&A in the New York Times regarding fire hazards in an apartment building, and how residents can handle these issues with their board.
January 17, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, participates in a Q&A in the New York Times regarding what to do with co-op shared space, and whether it should be converted into a playroom or gym.
October 01, 2013
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, is quoted in The Cooperator, on an article discussing disruptive residents in your condo or co-op and how to deal with those situations.
August 23, 2013
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, participates in a Q&A in the New York Times regarding what a tenant can do who has used the same storage spot for their bicycle for 25 years in their condominium building, and recently had the spot taken away.
April 19, 2013
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, participates in a Q&A in the New York Times regarding whether a co-op board can prevent someone who inherited a co-op from transferring the shares into their name.
August 23, 2012
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, participates in a Q&A in the New York Times regarding whether or not someone is covered by renter's insurance if they are unofficially subletting an apartment.
February 01, 2012
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, is quoted in The Cooperator, on an article discussing how a board can lay out solid rules and regulations for their co-op or condo building, and how to best enforce them.
February 01, 2012
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, is quoted in The Cooperator regarding co-op and condo rules and regulations, and how to follow them, while protecting your safety and quality of life as a resident.
October 01, 2011
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, answers a Q&A from a reader about common spaces in a residence overlapping with private spaces, and who would be at fault if something happens.
Publications
January 18, 2024
Most cooperatives and some condominiums must now report personal information about their beneficial owners to FinCEN under the Corporate Transparency Act. Jennifer Miller, Steve Katkov, Larry Laubach, Leni Cummins discuss.
January 10, 2024
Leni Cummins, Jennifer Miller, Rachel Soloman, and Anthony Riverso discuss the complexities surrounding the recent amendments to Section 756-a and Section 756-c.
December 01, 2023
Jennifer Miller discusses new New York legislation aimed at increasing transparency regarding the risk of flood damage and availability of insurance.
October 09, 2023
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss the New York City Department of Buildings' proposed new rules to clarify "good faith efforts."
March 24, 2023
Leni Cummins discusses the new standards for lithium-ion devices set by the NYC Administrative Code Sections 20-609 and 20-610, signed into law on March 20, 2023.
March 02, 2023
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Williams discuss New York City's Local Law 18 that requires owners and/or renters who want to rent out their residential units for less than 30 days to register with the New York City’s Mayor’s Office of Special Enforcement.
December 09, 2022
Leni Cummins discusses the allocation of expenses between residential and commercial units in Habitat Magazine.
December 06, 2022
There has been a dramatic increase in fires resulting from lithium-ion batteries and chargers. What preventative measures can coops and condo boards consider?
October 31, 2022
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss how the boards of condominiums and cooperatives should prepare for a recession and emphasize the fiduciary duties they owe to their unit owners and shareholders in the New York Law Journal.
July 27, 2022
An amendment to the Condominium Act authorizes a board of managers of a condominium to allow unit owner meetings to be conducted electronically.
June 13, 2022
The New York State Division of Human Rights (NYSDHR) has issued final regulations for housing providers to comply with New York Executive Law Sec. 170-d.
February 04, 2022
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss Section 467-a of the Real Property Tax Law and the prevailing wage affidavit condo and coop boards must submit to qualify for the tax abatement.
January 11, 2022
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss legislation Governor Hochul signed to exempt condos and coops from the 2019 Housing Stability and Tenant Protection Act.
December 22, 2021
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss New York City's order that all workers in must provide proof to their employers that they have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by December 27, 2021.
September 15, 2021
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller authored an article discussing the Senate Bill S6350A signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul that will require condos and cooperatives to pay prevailing wages to service employees in order for their owners/shareholders to receive tax abatements in The Cooperator New York.
September 09, 2021
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss Senate bill S6350A signed into law by Governor Kathy Hochul on Labor Day.
April 02, 2021
Leni Cummins addresses the challenges arising for New York City condominium boards and unit-owners as they navigate construction delays and apartment alteration agreement deadlines in Habitat.
March 31, 2021
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss New York Senate Bill S867 that requires every housing provider to provide written notice to all tenants and prospective tenants of their rights to request reasonable modifications and accommodations in connection with certain disabilities recognized under New York law.
March 01, 2021
Leni Cummins addresses if a statute of limitation exists for a request approved by a condominium board, that granted the homeowner permission to increase the height of a balcony enclosure in The Cooperator.
February 09, 2021
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss what boards of coops and condos need to consider when implementing a vaccination policy for their buildings now that vaccines are becoming more available.
December 22, 2020
In the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (the Act), which the House and Senate passed on December 21, the Small Business Act was amended to make cooperative housing corporations eligible for PPP loans.
October 30, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jen Miller discuss New York City's authorization to reopen indoor pools.
September 22, 2020
Leni Morrison Cummins and Jennifer Miller co-authored an article published in Habitat Magazine addressing the circumstances under which a condominium board may be held responsible for the cost of repairs to a unit.
September 03, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss what condo and coop boards need to know before reopening gyms and fitness centers.
August 21, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss the conflicting guidance regarding opening indoor pools in New York City.
July 15, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller update New York City condo and coop owners and boards with the latest guidance from the Empire State Development Corporation.
July 09, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss the Empire State Development Corporation's guidance for private pools and fitness centers.
June 05, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss changes to governing documents condo and coop boards should make that better equip themselves for this new reality.
April 08, 2020
Leni Cummins gives an update on condo and coop eligibility for Paycheck Protection Program loans following the SBA's Interim Final Rule.
April 02, 2020
Leni Cummins, David Hackett, and Marty Schrier discuss how property owners and condo and coop boards can take advantage of programs in FFCRA and the CARES Act.
March 31, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss the Department of Building's guidance following Governor Cuomo's order halting all non-essential construction in New York.
March 30, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller review ESD's guidance shutting down all non-essential construction in New York.
March 25, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss why boards should consider postponing meetings or holding meetings virtually.
March 19, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses what condo and coop owners and managers need to know about the SHIELD Act.
March 09, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller outline how property owners, managers, and boards should prepare themselves for the coronavirus.
March 05, 2020
Leni Cummins and Jennifer Miller discuss the New York City Department of Buildings expanded the requirements of its Façade Inspection and Safety Program, previously known as Local Law 11.
February 11, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses the governor's pocket veto of Bill S6219/A8082, which proposes requiring New York coops and condos to certify that their service employees are paid a prevailing wage to avail their shareholders and unit owners of the benefits of the state’s Cooperative and Condominium Tax Abatement.
February 05, 2020
Leni Cummins discusses the settlement reached with laundry machine provider CSC and who may benefit.
November 07, 2019
Leni Cummins discusses self-dealing sponsor issues in a special issue of Habitat magazine, titled “Seeking Counsel,” which profiles top condo and co-op attorneys.
September 16, 2019
Leni Cummins updates her previous alert with new guidance provided by the New York State Department of State.
September 05, 2019
Leni Cummins discusses what condo and coop boards can do to comply with this act.
May 23, 2019
Leni Cummins discusses the impact the Climate Mobilization Act will have on condo and co-op boards.
April 19, 2019
Leni Morrison Cummins discusses the Energy Retrofit Bill passed by New York City Council and its impact on property owners including boards of condos and coops.
April 04, 2019
Leni Cummins and Rebecca Eschen explain how condo boards can avoid pitfalls associated with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgage refinancing guidelines.
March 07, 2019
Leni Morrison Cummins and Rebecca Eschen authored an article in Habitat Magazine on how lenders blacklist entire condominium buildings based upon the Fannie and Freddie guidelines.
April 24, 2018
Leni Cummins discusses Governor Cuomo's correction bill that applies BCL Section 727 to condominiums created pursuant to the New York Real Property Law.
December 06, 2017
Leni Morrison, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate Practice Group, discusses if it is legal for homeowner association (HOA) board members to also serve on the board of directors of the property management company that the HOA hires and oversees in The Cooperator.
November 27, 2017
Leni Cummins discusses Local Law 147 that requires all residential buildings to establish and display a smoking policy that specifies where smoking is and is not permitted on the property.
July 01, 2017
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member of the firm's Real Estate Group, participates in a Q&A in The Cooperator, regarding whether a co-op owner can sue for water damages caused by a leaky roof.
November 02, 2016
Leni Morrison Cummins and Kelly S. Maharaj discuss Section 121 to the Multiple Dwelling Law (MDL) and Article 18 to Title 27 of the New York City Administrative Code that makes it unlawful for anyone to advertise the use or occupancy of apartments for purposes other than primary residence.
December 14, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member of Cozen O’Connor’s Real Estate practice, discusses how condominium boards can prevent undesirable purchasers, such as foreign investors, as well as undisclosed occupants.
October 15, 2015
Under New York General Business Law § 352-e(2-b), sponsor-developers of new construction and gut-renovation condominiums are required to hold all deposits, down payments and advances made by buyers of residential units in a special escrow account pending delivery of the completed unit.
May 01, 2015
Under Local Law 11, the New York City Department of Buildings requires owners of building that are six stories or greater to have exterior walls inspected once every five years. Building owners who did not comply by the most recent deadline have received a pardon, but are obligated to meet new requirements.
February 01, 2015
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, answers a question discussing parking garage issues in an apartment building.
October 01, 2014
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, discusses sponsors of condominium conversions and the ownership and funding of reserve funds.
September 01, 2014
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, discusses housing development fund corporations under New York Mayor Bill de Blasio.
April 01, 2012
Leni Morrison Cummins, a member in the firm's Real Estate Group, answers a Q&A from a reader about who pays for a water leak in a residence.