clever ways to inquire about apartment inspections, fire code inspections, etc

[movingtocally]

How did you ask your landlord about these things? I don't want to drop a shady email off or anything and ask when they are going to drop by. I notice a bunch of you guys know when the inspections are well in advance-how did you acquire this information without seeming shady?


Sorry if this is elementary. Thanks guys.

 

[ourcee]

I ask about people having access... i.e maintenance
because I have "valuable computer and A/V equipment worth thousands of dollars" and I want to know if I need to "lock up my personal belongings" if the repairman is gonna come in un announced one day.

 

[mrdizzle]

I dunno man you gotta read people, try to find out if they are local. apartments complex prolly have it in the lease. private landlords its really a roll of the dice. I havent heard nor seen from my landlord or that retarded housing management dude in over 2yrs. no way to ever tell if your landlord is gonna swing through

 

[SmokinSHO]

...

 

[GeneticHeirloom]

Don't forget you rights as a tenant, I had my landlord and Propery manager come un announced multiple times, and even once with an inspector.
Every time they tried to come in I said no, you need 24 hours notice, my house is a mess and i've got chores and errands to run and do. Although they were pissed, they knew it was their own fault, and haven't bugged me since the inspector came months ago.

 

[movingtocally]

bump

 

[VirginHarvester]

Hey moving, are you going to Cali? There was a recent thread about posting all your info in the grow room- DL, Rec, even laws and statutes granting permission for a med patient to grow(I think). So if all that were in your grow space and a landlord found it, he might not bother calling cops, at least before he talked to you.

My opinion on that is just as if he found a bottle of prescription narcotics prescribed by a doctor to you he must also accept if you are growing your medicine, assuming you follow safety precautions. Of course, on the safety issue(fire) he might be able to make a case that he wants you to stop or that he does not want to renew your lease.

 

[nephilthim]

my landlords landlord .I sublet is never around has never done a formal inspection,and is pretty much great because I leave her alone and never ask to have anything fixed as i do it myself.movingtocally I would shoot for something semi-rural in a friendly county advertise In cl in the want ads.
you definitely don't want a property management company as they are nuanced in these particulars and are adept at weeding out creating situations that will benefit the property management company not you.furthermore they have a financial disincentive to treating you fairly your deposit which they would like to keep to help their financial bottom line.
dealing with individuals is best as they for the most part just want their rent money and no hassles.an old landlady of mine stated her preferance to males over females as they didin't complain, didn't break things. if they did or something was broke, they were more likely to fix it themselves than a female thereby creating less work and more happpiness for landlady.
first impressions are key are they/the friendly?suspicious?rigid?smiling?frowning?remember this is a person that could severly impact your life asking yourself these initial questions should help you intuit if you want to deal with anyone/group that does the aforementioned.

 

[nephilthim]

Hey moving, are you going to Cali? There was a recent thread about posting all your info in the grow room- DL, Rec, even laws and statutes granting permission for a med patient to grow(I think). So if all that were in your grow space and a landlord found it, he might not bother calling cops, at least before he talked to you.

My opinion on that is just as if he found a bottle of prescription narcotics prescribed by a doctor to you he must also accept if you are growing your medicine, assuming you follow safety precautions. Of course, on the safety issue(fire) he might be able to make a case that he wants you to stop or that he does not want to renew your lease.

the problem is a lot of these dick property managers have inserted langauge that states tenant will not grow marijuana even it is for medical purposes.
like is said movin the people you want to avoid are property management companies.

 

[FunkBomb]

The best thing to do is to ask the necessary questions up front. When you sign your lease or pay the security deposit is the right time. I would word it something like this,

"According to clause XYZ in the lease you're supposed to give me 24 hours notice before you enter the apartment. Does this apply to repairs and inspections as well?"

In my old apartment one day I found a note on the door about how they do monthly spraying for bugs. I went to the office and told them I was allergic to the bug spray (noble lie). They told me to put a note on the door saying "DON'T SPRAY" and they won't come in. I did that every time I got a note and never had a problem.

-Funk

 

[Lord Doobie]

My old apt used to trick people by posting "Inspection Tuesday" on all 140 doors in 7 buildings...I assume this scared away all the meth/crack/whatever labs should there be any...I doubt there were...It was a nice neighborhood...yet they always did this every 6 months...I guess it worked for them...I stayed home during inspection day once and nothing happened in my whole building

 

[happyherb]

im not in the U.S...but on my lease it says how often they come..and i get a letter 2 weeks before they come for an inspection...
lol...last time all was hidden and i was doing the last run around to clean up and she came...knocked...i didnt hear her..she tryed her keys and they didnt work and left.....and i had to call her and say whats up?where are ya?....usually i change the lock but havnt yet this time ...glad to know they cant get in any way ..

may be an idea to get the question out there...say - i go visit family often out of state ect...say...for both our sakes if my belongings went missing at some point while was away i'd be pointing fingers if someone had gained entry(or something like that to get the Q out there) can always say youve had trouble in the past or a family member/friend has experienced bad things with tradesmen..

so i just want to know what the deal is with your entry into my place? so i could maybe take the choice of putting things away...be polite and half uncaring about asking the question so you dont sound suss...

ive found here every time ive rented a place ive been told how often they come for inspections when i sign a contract and get a letter/call/text message to say a tradesman is coming or to call a tradesman ect.HH. =]-~