Privacy, woman!
February 22, 2010 10:47 AM   Subscribe

My apartment manager has been coming into my unit to show it unannounced several times now, after I've submitted my 30 day move-out notice. I have less than a week left at the building - besides it being an inconvenience (and just seriously annoying on a personal level), is there any point to complaining at this time?

The only time I got a 24-hour advance notice is when she needed to show it during a weekend, when she knew I'd be in. One time she left fan and lights on, closed the bathroom door barring my kitty from her litterbox another. (Luckily she only had to go without it for four hours.) On some other days she just caught me when I was staying home instead of at work. There haven't been any serious problems, and I was so busy trying to arrange this move that I just let it go the first few times it happened and now I feel like I've missed a legitimate complaint window. Or something.

The reason I'm posting this now is she just walked into the place a few minutes ago with a new potential renter - and my boyfriend is staying with me to help with the move, so she nearly walked in on him pantsless. He sent me a short amused email about it, saying she simply started unlocking the door.

Should I still confront this issue, regardless of how little days I have here left? Is it better to let it go at this point, and take it as a learning experience to bring this up way way sooner if it happens in the future?
posted by Tequila Mockingbird to Home & Garden (15 answers total)
 
What do you hope to accomplish in less than a week?

Some people are just rude and clueless.
posted by dfriedman at 10:50 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]


Please, yes. She may just not be thinking. Even if it doesn't end up benefiting you personally (and it probably will), it may benefit some other poor tenant. No need to make a huge deal about it, just ask that she call first. You might also point out, gently, that locking your cat away from his litter box would hardly benefit her if kitty should be forced to soil the place, and that there may be other considerations, too.
posted by amtho at 10:56 AM on February 22, 2010


Of course confront this issue, considering that it will happen again. If it wouldn't, I would say let it go, but call her up and say "of course you know that you are required to give me 24 hours notice, though I understand why you haven't. Please give me as much notice as is possible though, knock before entering, and make sure you do x, and, and x when you leave". What's the downside of this?
posted by brainmouse at 10:56 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]


It may be in your lease that she can do this. Some states have laws disallowing this kind of entry, but I know some leases have a clause that allows them to assume you've been given the required notice once you're to the end of the lease like this.

I think it would all come down to the laws in your state and what your lease says is allowed.

But like dfriedman asks, what are you wanting to get out of this?

And next time, tell your boyfriend to keep the pants off and I bet this will solve itself.
posted by cjorgensen at 10:57 AM on February 22, 2010


How about stop being passive-aggressive. Say something or let it go.

Listen, I know you're trying to rent the place, but since I still live here and I don't like interruptions, please give me at least an hour's notice when you plan on showing the apartment. And don't turn on any lights and close any doors unless you plan on returning everything back to normal before you leave. Thank you for understanding.
posted by phaedon at 10:58 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]


I'd absolutely shoot her an email or something about how knocking is a good idea, at the very least. That's just really rude. You could follow your boyfriend's example as just seem amused at the idea that oops! she forgot to knock, and how embarrassing for everyone had she barged in on your boyfriend! She's clearly oblivious, and pointing it out in this way might be the easiest way to point it out to her.

Or you could wait until you're out, and remind her about not leaving fans on, and about advance notice (pointing out any stipulations in your lease or local law if that applies). However, I don't think unleashing your irritation in full is a good idea right now.
posted by runningwithscissors at 10:59 AM on February 22, 2010


The right of the landlord to enter an apartment to show it to potential tenants is generally found in the lease itself--and my experience has been that since the landlords proffer the lease for you to sign, they give themselves pretty wide berth here.

Should she knock? Absolutely. Can you complain that she shows up and lets herself in without notice? Perhaps not.

My one caveat (though, OP, I'm sure you're a delightful person and wouldn't do this) is that if one were to brow beat the landlord in the week before leaving, the sting of your opprobrium may cause her to give your apartment a more thorough move-out inspection and hold back some of your deposit. I know I would; I am very mean.
posted by Admiral Haddock at 10:59 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]


I absolutely agree with cjorgensen. Tell your boyfriend to drop trou the next time he hears the key in the lock when he knows you're at work, and your apartment manager will learn to at least knock first.
posted by JaredSeth at 11:06 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]


Talk to a local tenants rights clinic. Where I live, a tenant can tell their landlord not to enter without the tenant's prior approval or presence, regardless of what the lease says. It just requires sending a registered letter to their landlord, I think.
posted by paanta at 11:08 AM on February 22, 2010


The landlord has an absolute right to enter your apartment for a variety of reasons in all states and in all leases (if the landlord is smart). However, that does not grant them, in at lease California (OP's state) and Washington, the right to enter unannounced. In California, Civil Code Section 1954 specifically indicates 24 hours notice is the default:
If the purpose of the entry is to exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, the notice may be given orally, in person or by telephone, if the landlord or his or her agent has notified the tenant in writing within 120 days of the oral notice that the property is for sale and that the landlord or agent may contact the tenant orally for the purpose described above. Twenty-four hours is presumed reasonable notice in the absence of evidence to the contrary. The notice shall include the date, approximate time, and purpose of the entry. At the time of entry, the landlord or agent shall leave written evidence of the entry inside the unit.
Unfortunately, dealing with this from a legal fashion will likely not get you anything in the time you have. I concur with cjorgensen to solve the issue more immediately.
posted by saeculorum at 11:11 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]


When your landlord brings in a new person to view your apartment, does not give notice, and you or your boyfriend are there, just point out the obvious: "Wow, [landlord], why didn't you give me any notice before entering my apartment? I'm glad I was here."

They'll lose the prospective tenant. I was that prospective tenant once.

If landlord doesn't get the hint the first time, please be sure to count! The next time landlord brings someone in, you can say, "Wow, [landlord], this is the fifth time you've come in here without giving me any notice."

Your landlord will get it.
posted by juniperesque at 11:33 AM on February 22, 2010 [12 favorites]


Seconding juniperesque's advice. I was in your shoes once -- and I finally started a whole protest where I asked that people PLEASE call first before I let anyone in. Even if they called from the corner as they were walking up to the place, I was satisfied.

And I stuck to it. Even when a rental agent showed up with a potential tenant; I was home and had the door chain done. I heard the key in the lock, heard the door catch on the chain -- and I came to the door. "Hi, we're here to see the apartment."

"Did you call first?" I asked.

"....No."

"Then you may not come in." And I shut the door and walked away.

They opened the door again, it caught on the chain again. "Look, can I just come in for a minute?" The potential tenant said.

"I have asked these people to call me before they show up. They are not. If you went to the corner right now and called me from a payphone, THEN I would let you in. Until you do that, I will not." And I shut the door and walked away again.

They got the message.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 11:56 AM on February 22, 2010 [1 favorite]


If it were me, I'd let her know. Presume that she's just preoccupied with her job* and ask her to give you a little notice so that she doesn't walk in your pantsless boyfriend, and remind her to leave the bathroom door open for the cat.

This is the sort of thing I'd prefer to do over the phone, so that I can communicate with tone of voice that I'm a reasonable person making a friendly request.

* Yes, she's doing her job badly and should be more respectful of your space.
posted by desuetude at 12:00 PM on February 22, 2010


She just lets herself in? Put up a sign on the door saying "I am home. Do not let yourself in." Then phone her and tell her about the sign and that you seriusly don't want to be caught in the shower, on the toilet, in a bathrobe, etc. Add that just because you don't answer a knock, doesn't mean you're not home. Hope you have a chain lock....
posted by ThatCanadianGirl at 12:35 PM on February 22, 2010


Put a BIG note on your front door that reads:

PLEASE KNOCK BEFORE ENTERING.

THANK YOU!
posted by jbenben at 1:36 PM on February 22, 2010


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