Hi there ladies. I am still frustrated with this apartment living situation. Maintenance showed up at my apartment banging on the door unexpectedly. They never called like I asked them to nor did the leasing office. I have talked to both maintenance and the leasing office about calling before they come over. I had a bad situation where one of the guys from the maintenance crew walk right into my place without even knocking or anything. I wasn't dressed either, I was in my bedroom with the door open. My dog didn't even bark either because he didn't hear him. It was very odd how they just walked right in with no notice--a call or even knocking. It worries me that one day I might come home and they will be here and I wouldn't know. Another situation happened while I was at work too. I left my puppy in his cage (he has issues with men and new people) and went to work. When I pulled into the parking lot, I could hear my dog barking very loud and it wasn't a good bark. I went in and there was a paper left on the kitchen table saying maintenance had been in my apartment. The puppy had chewed up 3 blankets that were in his cage. Now, I have told the leasing office several times to please call before showing up and not to enter while the dog is left alone because of his issues. They seemed to understand this, but I guess they didn't this past week. I felt so bad for the puppy. How do I know they didn't yell at him for barking or making noise??! I'm very shocked they would even go into anyone's apartment without permission.
Also; the darn heat isn't heating up the place. It says 71 degrees, but I put on one of those plug in heaters and it read 63 degrees! That's a big difference. It's weird when my parents have a plug in heater at their house, it reads 68 which is the same temperature on their thermostat. I don't know what I need to do anymore. It''s frustrating.
Another thing that is bothering me; people keep smoking on the stairwells! I'm sorry but its just ridiculous. My place smells like cigarettes all night/day because people are too lazy to walk outside. Granted its cold outside; but you don't need to smoke right by the doors. It stinks up everyone's apartment. Even more so with bad asthma its not helping my situation.
Sorry but I needed to vent!
Thanks ladies!
Start writing letters! About the smoke, the entering without notice, everything, and reference the policies. Having them come when you aren't home can be convenient, but you should always know about it. Documenting it can also help you vent, if nothing else.
If you can, try to move when your lease is up. You may have better luck renting an apartment in someone's home or a duplex.
While you are at home, there should be a door chair or bolt so you can keep the door locked independent of the key lock. There are devices you can use in hotels for security that should work for you while you are home.
While you are not home is a problem. It might be a good idea for you to set up a hidden surveillance camera so you can record what goes on. It's great evidence in case you have to take it to a lawyer. It takes away all the 'he said - she said' arguments because what happened is all on tape and no one can argue with it.
That is one of the reasons I don't live in an apartment complex. I live in a modified two family apartment with a bonus basement apartment. I don't like every aspect of living there either but it is bearable. If I were in your shoes I would definitely make the plans and preparations for moving and get out.
You may want to put a chain on your door the kind you have to open with a key along with some kind of buzzer device for the door which buzzes when the door is opened. This way you are covered when you are home. I believe that are probably breaking the law and you may need to take them to court but know the rules and the laws and document dates and times these things are happening while you make plans for your exodus.
Start looking for another home now. Plan for it and then MAKE it happen!
Hi K.,
Boy can I relate! I purchased my own home after growing fed up with apartment life as well. It's amazing, rewarding, and completely worth it. I don't know what your life situation is, but considering that I pay less in mortgage than I paid in rent, I don't see why anyone would rent (if they are able to purchase a home).
Consider this, though: GOOD apartments with maintenance crews that actually abide by policies set in place for resident protection will provide that peace of mind that if something breaks, you're covered. When you own your home, if the heater breaks, you're up the creek unless you've got the money laying around to fix it. That's IF you can get a repair-man to come out sooner rather than later. Also- yard work, home repairs, homeowner's insurance, taxes... really, the expenses add up.
So depending on your life situation- maybe you just need to find a better apartment complex!
Once, I broke a lease because the apartment personnel kept breaking their own policies. After two requests in writing from me, they refused to fix a black mold situation in my apartment. So, I sent them a date-stamped letter requesting out of the lease. I made them sign a typed a letter stating that I would not be liable for any fees resulting from breaking the lease early, and I moved out!!! I was so fed up!!! A man just walking into your apartment is SO NOT OKAY!!!
If they can't abide by your requests, maybe you could do something similar.
Regardless of what you figure out, I hope the best for you! I know how stressful these things can be.
I've lived in my apartment for over three years - the landlord is great, we have a friendly and helpful maintenance man.
The previous apartment I lived in had an on-site landlord who would enter our apartments whenever he felt like it. One of the residents took him to court andseveral of us testified to his entering our apartments with no notice, or when weren't home. The judge fined him for it.
If you can, you might want to look for a different apartment. They don't all suck.
K.:
How horrible that this is happening!!! TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE.
First off - put it in writing that the maintenance company is NOT allowed to enter your home without calling first. Simply state if they do it again, you will press charges and follow through.
I probably would've called the police the time the guy came in while you were not dressed. Right then and there - that might've stopped it from happening again.
Just because you RENT does not GIVE THEM PERMISSION to free access to your home.
I would buy and install a chain lock to use while you are home. Just in case the pinheads feel the need to come in again without calling first.
Plan on moving out. Start looking now - I don't know your financial situation, however, I will state that if your credit is good - you can buy a home for less than you are paying in rent.
Find out when your contract/lease expires and start looking now. Fore-warned is fore-armed. Simply put - the more you know, the better prepared you will be.
If your heat is not working properly - check your vents - are they open? Put your hand in front of vent when the heater is on. Is there air flow? Does the air feel warm? If not - then contact the main office - again this means people coming into your home - just because you rent doesn't mean it's not YOURS!! You are paying for it.
Regarding the smoking. The stairwells are considered a community property/common ground. You may make complaints about it but I doubt very highly that the management company can do anything about it. You can nicely ask your neighbors to open the main door when they are smoking to let the smoke out. Believe it or not - there are MANY polite smokers out there - they are not all bad people. If you ask nicely - MOST will be respectful. If you don't ask - then how are they to know the smoke is bothering others?
Document that they are entering for non emergency... that is totally illegal without 24 hr notice.
And it sounds like the apartment community you are currently in is just not the one for you. Look around and find a place that doesnt look like one that would have people smoking in the halls. It's very hard to manage a bunch of people, I do my best at my complex but many tenants are just rude and crappy neighbors. The best solution is usually MOVE on. Before you move into your next place visit it a few times on wknds and in the evenings and notice if rif raf types are just hangin out. I've evicted bunches of them, but new ones just replace the old ones and it's a vicious cycle unfortunately. 95% of tenants are great but 5% can ruin it for everyone. I cant stand rude people that think they are above the rules.
Sorry youre having to deal with that.
If you make written requests to management of your complaints they should follow up... and you will have something substantial for court if you choose to go that route, you might get lucky and have a tenant friendly judge in your area.
well, that's not 'apartment living', it's the crappy apartment you live in! first of all, write down and document every complaint and ESPECIALLY every infringement. notify them IN WRITING each time something happens and keep a running document going for yourself too. you think you'll remember but you won't, and the dates will get fuzzy.
entering your apartment without notice is the most egregious violation. you MUST let them know that you are paying attention. calling them complaining isn't enough. get it in writing. get it in writing. get it in writing.
they don't want to get sued. if you send them a WRITTEN complaint, especially if you pay the tiny extra to have it delivery-stamped, they will work with you.
it is NEVER okay for maintenance or anyone else to enter your apartment without notice and without knocking. ever. do not allow this to pass.
the puppy chewing up the blankets isn't an issue (puppies chew, and so few apartments allow dogs that you're lucky in that respect) but them entering without notification is a huge one. don't emphasize the puppy aspect. it distracts from the real issue. you don't know if they yelled at him or not. let that go.
nail them for entering your HOME without permission.
thermostats are notoriously unreliable. that's a typical apartment hazard. if you don't have control of your thermostat you'll just have to use a plug-in. sucks, but it is what it is.
you probably have recourse re: the smoking, but the apartment complex will be reluctant to play policeman in this regard. are you willing to photograph your neighbors? if so you can probably lodge a complaint, but you will incur some ill-will. decide if it's worth it to you.
i don't miss apartment living, for sure.
khairete
S.
You need to write a letter to the apartment management. As soon as it is in writing, it is a potential legal matter and management will sit up and listen. Lots of times, there is a disconnect in communication between management and maintenance and your conversations slip through the cracks. Once it is in writing, they will listen.
That sounds alot like my apartment I hate it sooo much!
They are legally supposed to give you 48 hours of notice before coming to your house for maitence, unless you ask them to come a certain day at a time. So that is against the law right there.
But you need to start documenting these things, and everytime you have a problem go talk to the leasing office, and write down what you talked about and have them sign that paper. Then that way you have evidence that you were down there and there was no he said she said thing.
That way if you do decide to try to get out of your lease you have proof they acknowledged your issues.
I'm not sure what the laws are in Va-but in Md, we have landlord/tenant laws to protect the tenant-mostly. File a complaint-change the locks-and for goodness sake-bolt your door when you're at home! I would imagine the smoking in the stairwell violates an ordinance-find out and see that it gets enforced. Good luck.
