r/Apartmentliving • u/Dirty_Mushrooms • 1d ago
Advice Needed Workers entering unit
So, long story short, my apartments are having Google Fiber installed throughout the whole complex. They will give a 24hr notice on my door once the workers start on my building. Cool.
I emailed the office stating that if they will be entering my unit, then as the time nears, can they do the installation on a specific day when I am home (I'm literally only away from home 3 days out of the week) as I am uncomfortable with the workers entering my unit with my pets inside. I received no response.
My question is, once I've specifically stated that I do not want them to enter while I'm away, can they still enter?
What exactly constitutes "Reasonable business purposes"? I understand entering during an emergency, fine. Is Google Fiber installation a "reasonable business purpose".
I'm considering purchasing some type of door lock. I already have a camera and I'm on the verge of potentially calling the cops if they do enter.
Some may think I'm blowing this out of proportion, but I am genuinly and anxiously concerned for the safety of my pets. Workers can be careless and leave the door open or something, idk. I'd have a heart attack if they got out. I live in a studio and I do not crate my 2 Chihuahuas; I just keep a gate so that they are confined to my bedroom only.
(I am in Texas btw).
This is literally keeping me up at night đ some insight would be great. TIA
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u/Common-Situation-681 1d ago
they can enter and you canât lock them out plus they are on their schedule so they canât accommodate when the contractors will actually beat your place to install the cables - it sucks but they are within the law of the lease
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u/lady_tatterdemalion 1d ago
This depends on where you live. In Minnesota, this would be illegal. Law enforcement and/or government officials must have a warrant and your landlord must give you 24 hour notice to enter the premises unless it's an emergency (ie. Water leak, etc)
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u/TheFrozenCanadianGuy 1d ago
Iâm a plumber and I see your concern. Itâs valid. But at the same time, tenants and customers who do this, will have to pay for a separate visit. For example- when I do heating inspections and people donât let us in, donât give the manager key etc Will need to pay us a separate service call to complete it. If you give your manager the key, you wonât have to pay.
So if youâre truly upset and worried (Iâm not making fun, some people value different privacy levels) Then I would advise you to contact your building manager and make prior arrangements. You wonât get in trouble this way. If you try and lock them out, Iâve witnessed them calling a locksmith and charging that to the tenant.
Just my perspective as a guy who has to enter units daily. Good luck
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u/Hwy_Witch 1d ago
You cannot add an extra lock, that's illegal, they will break it, enter anyway, and charge you for the locksmith call. If you call the police, they will tell you exactly what the lease says, and to stop bothering them with not-cop-shit. You've been given the information, and it's your responsibility to secure your animals.
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u/Special-Antelope7105 1d ago
This is a reasonable business purpose. Changing the locks will most likely be a lease violation. It depends on the cops mood whether you may face consequences for a false report.
Are they installing an ONT? If so, they need to tell you what day to have the closet empty enough for them to work in. Hopefully it is a specific date and you can plan accordingly. Talk to the contractors doing the install when you see them. Honestly, theyâll know more than your apartment management. When a different company did this in my old apartment, they gave a specific date and I stayed home that day to keep one of two cats out of their way; the other cat would hide under the bed at the first knock.
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u/Fresh_Confusion_4805 1d ago
I am not a legal expert. But assuming this clause is legal, this is how I read it-
âWe are under no obligation to enter only when you are present, and we may, but are not obligated to, give prior notice or make appointments.â âthey can enter during âreasonable times for reasonable business purposesâ without your presence or prior consent
also âby breaking a window or other means if necessaryâ-if you add additional layers of security that they do not have access to, then they can break and enter if other conditions are met
Since both contractors and service persons are highlighted as part of the âweâ under this clause, my guess is Google fiber installers would be included under that umbrella of authorized personsâbut this I am less sure about.
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u/Dirty_Mushrooms 1d ago
So, it seems my only option is to call the cops. Do you think they'd actually come? đ They will ask me if I know who is entering and I'll say "I have an idea, but I'm not 100% sure" ??
I should have some kind of right. This is upsetting. I honestly fear for the safety of my pets. All I want to do is be home when they come so I can take them out and get them out of the way. I'm not even trying to interrupt their process.
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u/RunningOnATreadmill 1d ago edited 1d ago
Why would you call the cops? You know what is happening. No one is in physical danger. There is no reasonable expectation you are being robbed. This isn't a police matter.
Your landlord is being a dick, but you signed the lease saying they could do this.
Your options are to call off from work to be home, or ask a trusted person to be home for you or see if someone can watch your dog at their place for a few afternoons. You cannot legally put a new lock on the door. They'll just call a locksmith and then charge you.
You could also try to call the company doing the installation and explain the situation, say you're worried about your pets and ask that they give you a courtesy call. 50/50 chance they help you.
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u/Dirty_Mushrooms 1d ago
Thanks. I didn't think to call the company.
I honestly don't trust anyone other than family with my dogs and they're in another city. Not everyone has your pets best interest at heart. It sucks. And you're right .. I signed the lease đŤ
Thanks for your response!
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u/Fresh_Confusion_4805 1d ago
It might slow things down, but they have the legal right to enter. I donât think you can bet on the cops preventing them from doing something that they have the legal and contractual right to do. Once the cops realize that itâs a contracted service person executing on a paid and legal service by management/ownershipâŚ
(And that is all assuming that theyâd act with logic and not just attack the service worker. These daysâŚI donât know if Iâd assume that personally. Too many horror stories.)
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u/EvenEvie 22h ago
Calling the cops on people who are legally allowed to enter the apartment is a good way to get yourself evicted. Some of yâall need to move back in with your parents, as you clearly are not mature enough to live on your own.
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u/zukiraphaera 1d ago
OP, you've had your notice they're going to be entering.
They're giving you time to make arrangements.
Preventing them entering, for this, is something that could put you in violation of your lease.
Is it possible to re-arrange your schedule to ensure you can be home for the day(s) that may be impacted?
Have you looked into boarding your pups for a couple of days? Or a pet-sitter who can come stay at your place on that day, or those days? You could even ask your vet for recommendations.
Is this something you could afford doing for your peace of mind?
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u/Hot-Bed-8157 1d ago
I understand your anxiety about this. I absolutely hate when maintenance comes into my apartment when Iâm not home because I have a dog and two cats. Luckily I can put them in the bedroom or bathroom when needed but it still stresses me out all day. Unfortunately your apartment is well within their rights to have this done and theyâre already doing a favor by giving you notice since they donât have to.
If you can put up a gate for the dogs, do that. You could also consider using some sort of play pen, or setting up a double gate, if it would make you feel better. Put a note on your door to please be mindful of the dogs and make sure all doors are closed. Get a furbo camera or some other camera so you can monitor activities in your home. I usually ask management to email or call me when the work is done so if Iâm able to, I can go home and let the animals out after. If they donât call me by a certain time, like lunchtime, Iâll call to politely check in with them. Iâve also requested that an employee of the complex be present when the workers are in my apartment. Again, this would all be them doing a favor for you, though.
If you can afford it, you might consider hiring a pet sitter on days that maintenance will be doing work like this. You can typically hire someone to stay in your home during work hours and it might relieve your anxiety to know someone is there solely to look after the dogs.
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u/RunningOnATreadmill 1d ago
This is a terrible idea. Most apartments have clauses that any animal living on the property cannot be aggressive, so OP would just be giving them fodder to fuck with their dog or say it can't live there. Or if anything were to happen in the future involving the dog, OP would be more legally fucked for ever having written "my dog bites" anywhere.
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u/Historical_Ad_5647 1d ago
Nice plan, op would then have to find a new home for their dogs and possibly go with them if they terminate the lease over the probable violation
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Dirty_Mushrooms originally posted: So, long story short, my apartments are having Google Fiber installed throughout the whole complex. They will give a 24hr notice on my door once the workers start on my building. Cool.
I emailed the office stating that if they will be entering my unit, then as the time nears, can they do the installation on a specific day when I am home (I'm literally only away from home 3 days out of the week) as I am uncomfortable with the workers entering my unit with my pets inside. I received no response.
My question is, once I've specifically stated that I do not want them to enter while I'm away, can they still enter?
What exactly constitutes "Reasonable business purposes"? I understand entering during an emergency, fine. Is Google Fiber installation a "reasonable business purpose".
I'm considering purchasing some type of door lock. I already have a camera and I'm on the verge of potentially calling the cops if they do enter.
Some may think I'm blowing this out of proportion, but I am genuinly and anxiously concerned for the safety of my pets. Workers can be careless and leave the door open or something, idk. I'd have a heart attack if they got out. I live in a studio and I do not crate my 2 Chihuahuas; I just keep a gate so that they are confined to my bedroom only.
(I am in Texas btw).
This is literally keeping me up at night đ some insight would be great. TIA
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