Many residents of new York are wondering if they have the right to know if their neighbor had contracted the coronavirus?
This question has puzzled new York property owners. Currently landlords are not obliged to notify that someone in the building has contracted the virus or died from it. Similarly, tenants are not obliged by law to inform the owner or Manager of your building if they are ill (despite attempts on the part of some landlords require this).
In the absence of official leadership our attorneys say that building owners should take steps to inform their tenants.
«We tell them that they should tell people if there is a case, but not the name of the person who is infected,» — said the publication Gothamist David Burke, attorney Gallet Dreyer & Berkey, LLP, which represents property owners and boards of condominiums throughout new York city.
The firm gave some owners a template for a written consent of the infected resident, which would include their name.
But efforts to ensure transparency is complicated by the fact that some tenants feel that it is better to hide positive for coronavirus from landlord.
Burke said that he had heard from a few owners and property managers that they intend to evict tenants infected with a virus.
«We should not take such decisive steps, the lawyer added. — Just because someone is sick, it is not a violation of the lease».
However, if an employee of the building receives a positive result on the coronavirus, the landlord shall immediately notify each tenant that he could from him.
In addition, there are city guidelines for the owners and managers of buildings in which are highly recommended to consider the closure of the common areas and regularly disinfecting surfaces, particularly door handles and Elevator buttons.
