We came, we saw, we signed

Today, I’m lifting the lid on the blood, sweat, and paperwork behind a co-op application.

It’s a long and winding road (with potholes of tedium), but a heads-up and some hot air can keep you from springing a leak.

The next hazard—or cautionary package—involves the Disclosures & Acknowledgements.

Disclosures & Acknowledgements
This batch contains forms that disclose risk, confirm safety compliance, and acknowledge building rules. With most, you don’t have to do anything—just confirm receipt and sign that you’ve seen them.

Here’s what’s inside:

• Lead Paint Disclosure

• Window Guard Form

• Smoke Detector Acknowledgement

• House Rules Acknowledgement

• Bed Bug Disclosure Form

• Dog Policy & Registration Form

• Proof of Apartment Insurance

• By-Laws Memorandum

• Sublet Policy

Here’s what each one contains, discloses, or reveals:

Lead Paint Disclosure
Confirms awareness of any known lead-based paint hazards in units built before 1978, as required by federal law.

Window Guard Form
Indicates whether children under 10 will reside in the apartment and affirms installation (or waiver) of window guards. (If having kids under 10 already felt like prison, wait until you get bars on your windows!)

Smoke Detector Acknowledgement
Certifies that working smoke detectors are installed and that the applicant is responsible for their maintenance.

Pro Tip: Stay on the safe side—every time you change the clocks for daylight savings, change the batteries on your smoke detector. (I learned this trick from a successful CEO, so I can’t take credit.)

House Rules Acknowledgement
Affirms that the applicant has read, understood, and agrees to abide by the co-op’s house rules.

And no, most co-ops don’t allow 2am hallway roller derby, so you may need to make other plans.

Bed Bug Disclosure Form
Discloses any history of bed bug infestations in the unit or building within the past year.

Gross, yes—but better to know your property is addressing such issues rather than sweeping them under the rug (or bed).

Dog Policy & Registration Form
Acknowledges the co-op’s pet policy and, if permitted, registers any dogs residing in the apartment.

Proof of Apartment Insurance
Provides evidence that the (prospective or current) shareholder has or will obtain appropriate homeowner’s or renter’s insurance coverage.

If you’re a potential subtenant, this is for the current shareholder to provide. Chances are, they’ve already given it to the board when they purchased the property—but they’ll need to prove it’s current.

By-Laws Memorandum
Confirms receipt and understanding of the co-op’s by-laws, which govern shareholder rights and responsibilities.

Sublet Policy
Outlines the building’s rules on subletting and confirms the applicant’s agreement to comply with those policies. This applies to both the shareholder and prospective subtenant (if it’s a sublet).