This happened to my friend last weekend, and will probably happen to me in 2 weeks.

[reagansquad]

So, a good friend of mine was asleep in his bed at 7:30 in the AM on a Saturday after a good round of partying the night before. At exactly 7:31, someone knocked on his door. He just ignored it and went back to sleep... Well a few minutes later, 6 guys are outside his apartment taking the entire frame off from around the window, and yank his window out... Now, I know what you're thinking; "bang bang bang bang bang bang." ...Wrong answer! It turns out that the apartment complex had hired a team of guys to replace the windows on every building in the complex. They spent 2 whole days IN HIS APARTMENT banging around and replacing windows. According to him they even had keys.

Now, the new windows look nice so don't get me wrong, but I work evenings, so my waking hours begin no earlier than 10:30am. If someone comes to the door banging at 7:30, and then lets themselves in, my dogs are going to go batsh*t, and I'm going to head out to the livingroom with my shotgun to see what all of the comotion is about. Now, I haven't received any notice, but even if I do, 7:30am to me is like 4am is to most of you. I think anyone who was woken up at that hour by someone coming into their house uninvited would probably be a bit confused, even if they were told the maintinance men were coming. Now I don't want the trouble and possible eviction that would come along with an accidental armed confrontation between myself and a good old fasioned blue collar maintinance team, even if they were uninvited and unannounced... It just wouldn't go over well in this liberal college town and honestly, I would feel really bad about it.

Soooooooo.... My question to you is; What should I do about this situation? I live on the 3rd floor, so I don't think I need to worry about them coming in through a window... maybe I'll just install that chain lock I've been thinking about.

 

[ID_shooting]

Don't know about where you live but where I live, if you aren't the land owner, not bumpkiss you could do about it; however, talk to whomever is coordinating the window replacements and ask them to put you on a late A.M. slot if possible. Additionally, leave a note on your door stating that you work alternate hours and would like to not be disturbed before 10:00 A.M.

Right out of school I worked the graveyard shift at a "stop-and-rob" and I left a sign stating I was a night worker on the door to my apartment, It worked rather well.

 

[OF]

Why don't you just call them and tell them you'd rather they scheduled it at a specific time with you?

- Gabe

PS: And as far as I know, your apartment is your property while you are paying for it and there are laws that prevent people from just coming on in - even the landlord. IIRC, even the landlord has to give you 24-hr notice before they can enter. Having those guys barge in unannounced and uninvited is, as far as I know, illegal. And I would be plenty pissed, myself.

 

[Mixlesplick]

talk to whomever is coordinating the window replacements and ask them to put you on a late A.M. slot if possible

This may work if they are decent people. My landlord hired some people to reshingle my roof. The first day they arrived at two in the afternoon--my bedtime. I told them I work nights and it would be difficult to sleep with them up there banging around. The next three times they came to work here they didn't arrive until at least one pm. I also heard them mocking the job I did of shingling my shed. (It was the first time I had done a roof.) I held my tongue because my landlord is a decent guy and leaves me alone. I wouldn't count on any consideration if they don't work directly for you.

 

[bogie]

WHy not proatively give your apt company a call, and see if maybe they can get the fellows in while you're at work?

Or get ready to do a motel for a day or so.

 

[armoredman]

In AZ they have to give 30 days notice for major invasive work/inspections. Anyone pulling out my window would be very unhappy they did so!

 

[Pebcac]

I worked nights at FedEx while in college, and had the apartment manager enter my apartment to "check to see if we got moved in OK" while I was in the bed. I awoke to hear someone moving around and calling out just outside my bedroom door. I very nearly shot her.

Later on, I explained to her that I worked nights, and that anything going on during the day should be scheduled. I didn't tell her that had she opened that bedroom door while I was asleep, something tragic would've happened.

If I'd known then what my rights were as a tenant, I would've made a much bigger stink about it. Turns out, this woman had a habit of prowling around people's apartments, and her husband wound up getting arrested for some improper behavior with a minor not too long after I moved in. They were fired and evicted shortly thereafter.

Apartments suck, but it's better than living on the street.

In your case, I would give the management office a call and see if you could schedule it, or at least get them to do your unit in the afternoon. Gabe is right--you have all the rights of a property owner while you're under a lease. Check the terms of your lease to see how this kind of thing is (or isn't) addressed, and you'll know what exactly you can demand if necessary.

 

[cerberus]

You have no real rights

When your living in and Apartment you will find you have few if any rights about how the owners or their agents access your living space. This is a fact many soon find out when renting. Best advice I can offer is keep your guns locked in a safe that can't be just picked up quickly.

 

[Destructo6]

In CA, a renter probably has more rights than the landlord. In this case, the landlord would need to give written notice beforehand and do the work during normal business hours.

Try to contact the apartment manager or other person scheduling the work. If that fails, you might try a "beware of dog" sign from the doorknob, which may give the workers pause.

 

[TarpleyG]

I think you are also well within your right to install an inside lock on your door that prevents then from entering while you are there. In Texas, they installed them for us. That won't matter a bit if they are pulling your window out and can gain entry that way though.

Greg

 

[del4]

I used be an exterminator. I did tons of condos and apartments. The landlord gave me the keys and I had free reign of the buildings. All that I had to do is knock, enter and announce my presence. I rooted many people out bed. I know in the states of VA and Fla (states that I have rented apartments) the lease usually states that the landlords have to have access to your place, with or without notice. It's their property.

I also used to work for the power co. They are allowed to come on your property to do work as well.

 

[WeThree]

This reminds me of my first and only apartment...

A week or so after moving in I had a problem with water coming from under the fridge... condensate pan overflowing I guess.

Anyway the guy popped in while I was asleep around 9am or so, I really didn't like the feeling, and pretty much decided I would avoid ever living in and apartment again.

That said -- try to get it scheduled at a mutually agreeable time, as mentioned above. Also -- install a chain lock on the door, and keep it locked when you're inside. Anyone who busts through that to get inside is probably there for more than maintenance.

 

[mondocomputerman]

I live in an apartment here in Kansas, so I looked up the Kansas regs. Unless it is an emergency (flooding, electrical problems) they have to give a warning that they are coming in. I once had a maintence man just unlock the front door and try to come in during the day. I happened to be home, and the security chain stopped him from coming in. I was a little freaked out. You do have rights, even though you are in an apartment.