Is this legal in any state?

[5even]

Minnesota
Been here almost 10yrs, never seen this before ANYWHERE I lived.
New management took over, kept myself (caretaker) and on site manager on board. However, brought in a new team to a wide variety of aspects of the building, from repairs to consultations.
One things recently happened while the new management was taking over - upgrading (which can be good).
In doing so, each contractor he hires on, is given an "A" key (for those not in the know - that is a key that unlocks everything and everyone apartment). Normally only myself and the on site manager has one, but the new management (this is above the onsite management) feels it in their best interest to give these contractors (could be plumbers, renovators and or cleaners) an "A" key as well. Not only do they now have an A key, but they proceed to do their work in various unites UN-ESCORTED.

One particular contractor did such a horrible job, that they were fired, and not sure they even got paid - however that makes them suspect if they made dupes. Regardless, this puts the tenants and a very gross security disadvantage.

Is there a law that protects tenants from this? and other similar behavior? The onsite manager, who does not have a 2nd job, SHOULD have been the one to escort, as I have a full time job elsewhere, and only work there part time. Instead these contractors have free reign of the building until they are finished. Sometimes going in on apartments with a surprise.

Regards

 

[FarmerJ]

I don't recall where It was that I had learned of it but back in the 80s it seemed to me our state had a requirement of 72 hour notice for non emergency entry ( back when I was a tenant on West Broadway in mpls, the other place I lived in out in New hope had a on site manager who more than once let her self in with zero notice while I was laying down ( since I worked overnights back then too) SO you didn't say where you were in the state but if you have metro dialing call the Minnesota tenants union ( since after all this time its likely there could have been a change in the law ) to learn now what is required for non emergency entry notices. AS to someone else having the master key I wont say its against the law but it is a very bad choice in judgment since the people working on the units could simply in the morning get keys for apts 101 - 112 then return them each day or if done sooner and then get 201 -212 etc . Even if they are contracted workers / hired by the landlord the LL is still responsible for the acts of those agents of the landlord. As agents of the landlord they really don't need to be escorted to a door to get it unlocked since that could be a problem if the door has no other lock but a deadbolt. I would tell you since they have become so cheap you might as well buy a nanny cam that would trigger with motion and record all entrys into your own apartment and maybe if you can get say 3 of them cheaply enough then you can record the door area , and I assume you keep some valuables in the bedroom so you want to have a cam that will trip with entry to the bedroom and lastly if you keep a desk or other identity related items in the living room or dining area to have those areas recorded , some of my urban friends now use such a system to record their homes back door area outside , one cam inside the house and two more outside since they have had a number of things stolen from the yard, if they go somewhere its motion based they are in bed it is working. No matter what these agents of the landlord should be giving a reasonable notice for non emergency entry.

 

[5even]

Hi
thank you for your prompt reply

We have notice, however, it is customary to have the caretaker or management escort and keep an eye on workers. We entrust the security of our "home" to the staff.
Handing out keys to people like "cleaners","electricians", and an assortment of other 3rd party people is not acceptable, Nor does it make us feel safe and secure, but instead more like a prison cell that the manage ment can "flip our matreses" at their discretion (even with notice - we still have to concede).

However, this is not against the law in any state, just short of bad judgement on the staff's part?

And if we do not care for the way the staffs mis-uses our homes, we can move?

Is that how the state sees it? (Those are rhetorical questions, just calling it like it is for verification).
Not to mention, it is now against policy to install dead-boltss Which is part of my next question relating to this topic - since they give out their master key(mind you it is only 1 ONE key - they master - it unlocks everything), They can also enfouce the "no dead bolts or chains" in the new lease agreement?

If this is all true, there will be some more upset tenants. Lots of them come to me and ask what to do.

Thanks again for your time in this matter

 

[FarmerJ]

They cant make tenants stop using privacy chains if they must break into a unit during a emergency where there is a chain they may do so and if there is any damage caused from breaking in they can send a bill to the tenant , If a apartment does not have a privacy chain and a tenant added one with out this current landlords consent then that can be construed as damage If a tenant already has one and has had one in place its fair for the tenant to argue that it stays put ( since tenant would have put holes in both door and door trim to install) back in 78 when I rented out in new hope I installed a locking chain to try to keep the manager out due to her habit of letting her self in with out notice. AS far as deadbolts goes , it doesn't matter what is in the lease if your city codes require deadbolts they can not use a lease to get tenants to waive that. SO call your city hall on Monday and learn if your city requires deadbolts ( and if they do then you want to know if its a one inch bolt) many years ago I do remember many rentals in mpls that had the older small bolt deadbolts then city wrote a new ordinance to require all rental unit doors to have one inch deadbolt in the very early 80s so again check with your city hall on that one. As I said about letting every one and their uncle use mastered keys is not a good choice but at no time is this current management firm going to be off the hook for its agents actions. I still believe using nanny type cams is a good choice for tenants especially when they are able to catch -record entries that took place with out notice since that kind of video can help a tenant establish proof for the courts that the landlord violated a tenants right to privacy. BTW your free to let trusted neighbors come to this site and read thru the threads here just tell them to not use the preview button if they join and want to post , its broken)