maintenance man

[pwnedbyme73]

So last week i had the maintenance man knock on my door at my apt. complex. lately me and my wife have been sleeping in the living room of my apartment. Anyway the maintenance guy knocks once on the door and yells "Maintenance!" while putting his key in the door and trying to get into my home. Heres the problem, my wife sleeps in the nude and i had to yell at this guy multiple times not to come into my apt. I also had to physically hold my front door shut while he was trying to force his way in. luckily my wife made it to our bedroom in time to get some clothes on. i do sleep with my carry gun right beside me and in kansas it is illegal to enter an apt. without at least some type of notice. Honestly i feel violated and like somebody might walk in on me at any time of the day. has anybody had something similar happen to them? if so, do you have any advice?

[DefensiveCarry.com]

[Crowman]

I do sleep with my carry gun right beside me and in Kansas it is illegal to enter an apt. without at least some type of notice.

He gave notice when he yelled "Maintenance".

While not very secure...... Install a chain lock inside so the maintenance man has to wait for you to open the door.

[matthew03]

So you tell the guy not to come in multiple times and then have to brace the door while he continues to try?

If it were me, the property owner would be called immediately and if that didn't go 100% the way I wanted it to the police would be notified as well. I would be very sure all parties understood this would not be happening again. You need to make both the property owner and all maintenance employees aware that they are to call and schedule ahead unless there is a dire emergency, that would be fire or water gushing from your Apt. I find these types of issues are solved best by being very direct.

[ANGLICO]

Walmart dot com sells pajamas for your wife to, um, use?

All kidding aside.

In every state, you have a right to your privacy in your 'abode'. Especially when leagally paying for it. You may want to contact a Lie-person = Lawyer, to advise you for how much you can stuff up your land lord's butt for $$. Just saying.

[pwnedbyme73]

So you tell the guy not to come in multiple times and then have to brace the door while he continues to try?

If it were me, the property owner would be called immediately and if that didn't go 100% the way I wanted it to the police would be notified as well. I would be very sure all parties understood this would not be happening again. You need to make both the property owner and all maintenance employees aware that they are to call and schedule ahead unless there is a dire emergency, that would be fire or water gushing from your Apt. I find these types of issues are solved best by being very direct.

the management here is known to give renters bad reputations if one was to complain. Ive lived here a couple years, and tried to have more than a few problems resolved and they do nothing. also ive heard from other people that they just get annoyed and treat tenants worse if they complain. ill be sure to keep track of all my interactions with them from now on, but i honestly feel the management wont care about this situation.

[troutkiller]

Have you readup on Kansas landlord-tenant laws? I've been in similar situations.

You might think about moving.

[goldshellback]

alarm_door_security_bar.jpg

One of these will 'assist' with those buggy maintence personnel.... and give ya a 'second layer' of door security while ya'll are home.

[pwnedbyme73]

Have you readup on Kansas landlord-tenant laws? I've been in similar situations.

You might think about moving.

I have. It just says that they must give "reasonable notice" before entering. even so this guy tried to force his way past me. what if it was an ex tenant that had a key or something? I didnt even request a work order so i had no idea what was going on, just waking up and all.

[troutkiller]

alarm_door_security_bar.jpg

One of these will 'assist' with those buggy maintence personnel.... and give ya a 'second layer' of door security while ya'll are home.

Try an old-fashioned door stop while you're looking for another apartment.

41sgJFEEhOL._AA160_.jpg

[TrevX]

step 1 - visit lowes
step 2 - purchase new deadbolt lock
step 3 - install
step 4 - drink some beer, and enjoy.

[Snub44]

...most apts. forbid you to put your own deadbolt on since they do need access...but something happened in the law in TX a few years back and they had to start putting a second bolt on for when you're home...no key on outside...to keep just such as this from happening...a privacy lock...you can also buy a hinged privacy lock that just requires a coupla small screws in the jamb and noone's getting in unless they smash in...the suggested Fox-lock that's been pictured that goes under the knob at an angle's at Home Dippy for less than $20...

...for you to be yelling and him still pushing on the door...raises my hackles...I've known too many cases of maintenance men abusing their master keys...I'd start with asking the mgr. to show you the work order that he was "acting" on...and I'd walk outside my apt. day and night and make sure all window shades were working well...I'd probably file a detailed police report, too, they might do a bit of checking on his history..his actions aren't normal...

[troutkiller]

^^^^ this ^^^^

[TrevX]

...most apts. forbid you to put your own deadbolt on since they do need access....

thats ridiculous....so when your not home and maintenance decides to ran sack your apartment.......yeah, not happening.

glad I have a home, I wouldn't put up with that nonsense rule. I'd be installing my own deadbolt.

[saa]

I have. It just says that they must give "reasonable notice" before entering. even so this guy tried to force his way past me. what if it was an ex tenant that had a key or something? I didnt even request a work order so i had no idea what was going on, just waking up and all.

What did you buy that gun for?

Here, in Texas, forcing your way into a residence, no matter who you are is grounds for use of deadly force. Forcing your way past me at the door isn't going to get you into your maintenance job.

I'm not advocating shooting this maintenance man - AT ALL! PERIOD. - but I am saying if he forces his way in and meets the barrel of a gun held by the legal homeowner who has been surprised by an illegal forced entry - he'll likely never return to your apartment, let alone enter again.

If Kansas uses the "Castle doctrine" or a similar rights law then you have every right to scare the hell out of him. Be cautious and prudent, and check your laws first to make sure that you have the right to draw on him and call the police.

Problem solved - no question.
saa.

[dukalmighty]

The following is KS LAW you can tell your landlord that you need 24 hr written notice before any entry into your residence,any maintenance workers that violate that will not like the ensueing outcome of their actions


“Reasonable notice” is something you and
your landlord have to decide together. If
you don’t mind if your landlord comes over
without calling first, that’s fine. But you
can insist that your landlord let you know as
much as 48 hours in advance. One to twentyfour hours is common. You should select your
normal standard, preferably put it in writing, and
be consistent.