Lanlord wont get me a mailbox key.?

Question

I live in an apartment building in NY. There is one big wall of mailboxs that each tenant needs a key for. I have been here for six months and payed rent early or on time every month. 2 months ago I moved witin the building to a larger apartment. They never gave me a mail key because they told me the tennant before me didnt give it back. They promised one soon. OK, 2 month later still no key. They told me for sure last monday. So i went to the office 5 miles away to get it, they didnt have it but they said the maint. guy had it. When i got ome i find that te maint guy went into my mailbox and gave the mail inside it to my wife. As a favor, and told her to tell me to come the next day to pick up the key at the ofice. I feel violated because he messed with my mail without my permission. Do i deserve a rent reduction? Any legal consequences they should suffer? Thank You.

Answer 1

As long as the mail wasn't opened by the maintenance guy no practical harm done. Very annoying, yes.

The maintenance guy could have brought the key with him. Another wasted trip for you. I feel some type of restitution is due you.

Answer 2

Legally he wasnt tampering with your mail, tampering is taking or opening your mail and using credit cards etc when all he did was give you your mail out of convenience, the guy did you a favor, and no you don't deserve a rent reduction for what?? It's not like you've been living in a place with no heat or hot water. No legal consequences, the complex or the maint guy have not broken any laws, the only thing they are guilty of is not getting you a key as quickly as you'd have liked.

If they office won't give you a key or it's still not available, you have to call the post office to have them rekey the lock. I lived in a condo and they had a bank of mailboxes, I lost the key and had to pay the USPS $10 to have them rekey it.