I was having an afternoon nap with my baby, we were alone in the apartment. The door was locked using the deadbolt. Suddently I heard some sound, came into the living room and saw the living room door open and one guy doing the maintenance work on our living room window. (We had requested for a maintenance few weeks back). I asked him how he got in, he said he knocked a few times and then opened with the spare keys he had.
I feel really uncomfortable after this. What do you feel? I feel like going to the apartment management and speaking to them regarding this.
2006-08-15 09:16:50 · 56 answers · asked by Newme 3 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
Thank you all very much! I really did not expect these many helping hands.. I am feeling so happy now that lot of goodness do exist in this world.. No 'best answer' as I cannot select all the answers as best.
I met the management people and talked with them regarding this as a concern, and they promised that it will not happen in future and they will call in advance.
Also, need to buy the chain lock ASAP.
Thank you again!
2006-08-15 13:55:28 · update #1
Go to the apartment management. Depending on where you live, they may be required to give you 24 hours notice for non-emergency work. If not, discuss with them the notice requirements that they have.
2006-08-15 09:20:40 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 3⤋
That's really creepy. A maintenance request just lets management/maintenance know that you need something fixed or looked at. It doesn't give them the right to show up whenever they want.
If they had informed you that someone would be by that day and then he had knocked, got no response and entered I'd say that would be fair cause he has a job to do.
But to not let you know that someone was coming? Not good.
I think you should tell management (and write a letter) telling them what happened. Let them know that in the future you expect notice (i.e. Please call the morning that maintenance will be taking place to let me know) or inform them that they must schedule maintenance when you will be available to supervise (this is what I had to do).
2006-08-15 09:32:17 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, I think I'd feel uncomfortable about this situation too.
Call or go to the apt manager & file a complaint. The workers should have announced their presence as soon as they opened that door. That probably would have awakened you or at least alerted you that someone was in your apt.
You did request a maintenance, so you should have been expecting them. But next time, ask for a time frame as to when the maintenance will possibly be performed. Or even request that you be notified 24 hrs in advance.
Get a chain for your door.'
2006-08-15 09:27:54 · answer #3 · answered by Bluealt 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Always remember that whenever you put in a maintenance request it should be expected to get done right away, but for some reason that it's not, you should call managment and ask them what's up. If they can't give you a definite answer on when they will take care of your problem let them know that you would like to leave a phone number so they can schedule with you when they can come and fix your problem. I know that for any entrance to anyone's apt. they need to give 24hr. notice, but that is for inspections. It's best to follow up on problems that have not been fixed so you can avoid stuff like this. Well those are my two cents...
2006-08-15 09:27:09 · answer #4 · answered by rosie71gue 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You could talk to management and ask maintenance only to come in when you answer the door, but then you can expect they will take even longer to fix anything in your apartment.
It sounds like your apartment maint guys are pretty slow anyway (probably understaffed and reall busy).
Maint guys coming in when you are not home is pretty normal for apt complexes....I know they did when I had my apartment (s).
What I would probably do is get a chain lock to add to your door (they are less than $5). Use it when you are home, in addition to the other lock. That way, you always can always control who comes in and sleep soundly knowing no one will walk in and wake you up (that would freak me out a little!)
Good luck
2006-08-15 09:30:14 · answer #5 · answered by Mary K 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would go to the management about this. No one should wake up to find someone in thier home, even if you had requested the work. Someone should call first to set up a time to do the work. I would be very upset about this. I would have been all the same if you had walked through the house naked and this guy was there. You should not have to worry about who is going to use a key to come in.
2006-08-15 09:23:04 · answer #6 · answered by Midnight Blue 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would definitely go to the management about this issue since it made you so uncomfortable but I would also look into your lease agreement to see if this was mentioned. I've lived in an apartment before where it was stated in the agreement that they can enter the apartment at anytime for maintenance. If you signed the agreement then there is not much you can do.
2006-08-15 09:23:01 · answer #7 · answered by materialgrlunlimtd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think that's safe at all. It makes sense for the apartment manager to have a key just in case, but other than that, no one should be able to get into your apartment. Keys are too easily lost, duplicated, and given to people who aren't supposed to have them. Also, how thoroughly does your apartment supervisor check the backgrounds of the people he hires and gives keys to? Can he or she be sure that even these employees won't steal resident's belongings or otherwise endanger them?
2006-08-15 09:22:30 · answer #8 · answered by Cat Loves Her Sabres 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
They do a lot of maintenance during the day since people are often not at home and they can get in to do work without disturbing anyone. Just contact the leasing office to let them know of your preferences.
Better the afternoon then 3am!
2006-08-15 09:22:03 · answer #9 · answered by But why is the rum always gone? 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
People living in apartments normally have to deal with this. You need to make a special request that the maint. person ONLY goes to your apt. at certain times. Being a woman with a baby, it makes sense that you are nervous. HOWEVER, by law, you should have a chain or bolt that can only be opened from the inside to prevent surprise entries.
2006-08-15 09:32:07 · answer #10 · answered by Kookoo Bananas 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
What was he suppose to do after he knocked on your door with no asnwer? Don't maids in the hotel come in if you don't answer them? Or should he has known that you're asleep and wait by your door till you wake up?
This is unpleasant situation, but nobody's fault. And by going to the management you can cause this poor guy to loose his job.
Would you feel good then?
2006-08-15 09:23:52 · answer #11 · answered by Michael R 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋