Management office fine me for not provide key to new lock

[calvinf1]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Philadelphia, PA

Here is the situation:

I live in a high rise condo building. A year ago I changed the lock to my door and I did provide ONE set of copies to my management office. Throughout the year, they were able to access my unit without me being there.

Today they tried to enter my unit without notify me first (this is not even my main issue right now). Luckily I was home and the maintenance said they needed to check on a leak complain from the unit below. So I let him in to check.

My management office then calls me to yell at me for changing the lock and not providing them a key since they weren't able to enter (which I did not). They threaten to fine me if I don't make them a key. I refused for the reasons that I did NOT change the lock since the initial time and the fact that I've given them a set and they can find it leads me to believe they've lost the key or something else has it.

At this point, what are my options? I am unwilling to give them another set since they should already have my keys (and that they might have misplaced it or someone else has it). They going to fine me in which I'm not going to pay. Also are they even allowed to require me to give them my keys? What are my privacy rights that can protect me in this situation? Their reasoning is that in case of a fire, they can access my unit. My response to them is that they can break the door down of that happens....

Please advise.

Thanks,

Calvin

 

[HuAi]

Why don't you pay the $1.25 for another key rather than dragging this to court?

 

[JETX]

Please advise.

Talk about bringing a butter knife to a gun fight....pay the friggin' $1.25 and give them a key. Make them sign a receipt for it.

 

[FarmerJ]

Yup give them a key after you invest in a motion based nanny cam that will turn on via motion, when its aimed at the door to your unit. If you ever find they entered with out notice when there clearly was no emergency , call the police make a report with a copy of your video showing who it is that entered and let the managment explain why they entered with out reasonable notice.

 

[InsaneJane]

Condo Key switched????

I'm surprised that nobody here picked this up.
Have your locks re keyed. It is a known problem that keys don't often get stolen from apartment complexes, but often get switched by theives. A good locksmith or hardware attendent can also create a key for the complex that is just a little off. Will still work but won't be easily duplicated.
You should also inform your local police department of the situation. They may be very interested.
As for the price of re keying, it is for your benifit. If the management agrees to re inburse you than; good for you.

If you don't like my advice, then feel free to call the police and ask to speak to a detective. I'm sure they will be glad to explain it to you.

Good luck.

 

[colourfastt]

PA Statute 3307(a):

... the association is responsible for maintenance, repair and replacement of the common elements and each unit owner is responsible for maintenance, repair and replacement of his unit. Each unit owner shall afford to the association and the other unit owners and to their agents or employees, access through his unit reasonably necessary for those purposes. ...

 

[HomeGuru]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Philadelphia, PA

Here is the situation:

I live in a high rise condo building. A year ago I changed the lock to my door and I did provide ONE set of copies to my management office. Throughout the year, they were able to access my unit without me being there.

Today they tried to enter my unit without notify me first (this is not even my main issue right now). Luckily I was home and the maintenance said they needed to check on a leak complain from the unit below. So I let him in to check.

My management office then calls me to yell at me for changing the lock and not providing them a key since they weren't able to enter (which I did not). They threaten to fine me if I don't make them a key. I refused for the reasons that I did NOT change the lock since the initial time and the fact that I've given them a set and they can find it leads me to believe they've lost the key or something else has it.

At this point, what are my options? I am unwilling to give them another set since they should already have my keys (and that they might have misplaced it or someone else has it). They going to fine me in which I'm not going to pay. Also are they even allowed to require me to give them my keys? What are my privacy rights that can protect me in this situation? Their reasoning is that in case of a fire, they can access my unit. My response to them is that they can break the door down of that happens....

Please advise.

Thanks,

Calvin

**A: there is no law requring you to give the HOA a key to your unit.