When a Neighbor Dies Unattended, How Should the Building Handle It?

In this "Ask Real Estate," a reader asks about a situation stemming from two unattended deaths in a 60-unit co-op building in Brooklyn, New York. Six months later, the reader's apartment remains affected by the smell.

Despite a court order allowing the co-op board to remove the apartment's contents, the smell persists, posing a problem for the resident. Running air purifiers helps, but some areas remain unusable. Recourse options are limited, as household insurance doesn't cover non-physical damage.

Jill Terreri Ramos explores the legally complex issue.

For more information see  Jill Terreri Ramos “When a Neighbor Dies Unattended, How Should the Building Handle It?”, The New York Times, January 27, 2024.

Special thanks to Lewis Saret (Attorney, Washington, D.C.) for bringing this article to my attention.