Lucas A. Ferrara in New York Times Real Estate Section,
HOW MANY SUPERS MUST A BUILDING HAVE?,
June 29, 2007.

By: Jay Romano
Q & A

Q I am a board member in a co-op with almost 400 units. Is there a New York City requirement that we have two live-in superintendents so that we have full-time coverage, or can the superintendent live nearby and be available 24/7?

A Lucas A. Ferrara, a Manhattan real estate lawyer, said that under the New York City Housing Maintenance Code, owners of buildings with nine or more apartments, including co-op buildings, must provide janitorial services. He said the law refers only to janitors, not superintendents.

The law does not require the janitor to live in the building, Mr. Ferrara said, but he must live within a block of it or no more than 200 feet away, whichever is greater.

The law also allows an owner to hire an outside company to perform janitorial services; the company must be available on a 24-hour basis every day of the year.