Question for Landlords- Deadbolt Lock

[Sharon]

My DD and her hubby are living in their college town of an apartment.  They both graduated this last June but have continued to live there to save money for a down payment on a house. 

Hubby has a job that sends him out of town for 2-3 days about every other week.  Other days he is working incredibly long hours, like from 5am - 10pm.  He is in an agriculture related business and it is summer he has lots of work.

They are paying $500 a month for a 2 bedroom apartment that has a fireplace.  It also has off street parking which is a plus in a college town.  The landlord does not have issues filling the apartments.

In April they asked the landlord for a deadbolt lock, he said that he thought he could do that for them.  It is now the end of July and no deadbolt.  He doesn't seem to be around when they knock on the door.  They have written a letter authorizing him to enter the apartment to do this work while they are gone but he says he wants them to be there while he does this.  DD's job has an hour commute each way but she is generally home by 5pm.

Is a deadbolt lock considered a necessity?  Do they have an recourse to put some pressure on the landlord to get this installed?

There is some question as to owns the apartment.  We have heard that the manager is also the owner and we have heard that the managers sister is the owner but not sure who the actual owner is.  The manager is live in but does not keep any kind of office hours,  he either answers the door or he doesn't.  There is a slot where they can put rent checks/letters etc.

ETA:  We live in Oregon if that makes a difference.

[travelnut11]

I can't speak to the laws in your area but I'm a landlord in a college town and we have a very helpful Landlord/Tenant Resource center that assists both tenants and landlords with issues like this.  It can be difficult to wade through the statutes yourself and I've found this center to be very helpful.  I'd do a search for something similar in your area...I'd be surprised if there wasn't something similar in a place with a lot of young renters.

[Sharon]

Jul 29, 2014 20:31:23 GMT -5 travelnut11 said:

I can't speak to the laws in your area but I'm a landlord in a college town and we have a very helpful Landlord/Tenant Resource center that assists both tenants and landlords with issues like this.  It can be difficult to wade through the statutes yourself and I've found this center to be very helpful.  I'd do a search for something similar in your area...I'd be surprised if there wasn't something similar in a place with a lot of young renters.

You are right there is such a thing in their town.  It also states that the landlord is required to provide a lock that keeps other people out of your place. 

Apparently it is a well known fact around the complex that the doors can be opened by shoving a 3 x 5 recipe card in the crack of the door.  They don't even require a credit type card just a stiff piece of paper.  DD said they tested this out when they heard it and the person who told them is correct.

[simser]

Is there a problem with buying their own kwikset deadbolt, installing it themselves, rekeying it to the old key, and then undo it when they leave? That way the LL can get in with his key, and they have a deadbolt when they can do it.

[mollyanna58]

As to finding out who actually owns the building, check the local tax records.

[travelnut11]

Jul 29, 2014 20:54:27 GMT -5 Sharon said:

Jul 29, 2014 20:31:23 GMT -5 travelnut11 said:

I can't speak to the laws in your area but I'm a landlord in a college town and we have a very helpful Landlord/Tenant Resource center that assists both tenants and landlords with issues like this.  It can be difficult to wade through the statutes yourself and I've found this center to be very helpful.  I'd do a search for something similar in your area...I'd be surprised if there wasn't something similar in a place with a lot of young renters.

You are right there is such a thing in their town.  It also states that the landlord is required to provide a lock that keeps other people out of your place. 

Apparently it is a well known fact around the complex that the doors can be opened by shoving a 3 x 5 recipe card in the crack of the door.  They don't even require a credit type card just a stiff piece of paper.  DD said they tested this out when they heard it and the person who told them is correct.

They should also be able to offer advice on what to do if the landlord is not complying.  I'm sure a lovely note from the city would get things moving.  If not, check with the city housing authority.  I would document all of the contacts I tried to make to the landlord and their lack of attention to the issue.  I personally prefer e-mail/mail whenever possible as there is a paper trail.

I actually just had a tenant illegally add a lock to their internal doors (not to keep me out but to keep out one of their roommates).  This was very illegal even in my tenant-friendly city as they need permission from the landlord to do so.  I'm not sure I'd go that route if I were your daughter but would look into his violation of the safety issue.

[Bonny]

I think the easiest thing is to get written permission to have the deadbolt installed at your expense and give a copy of the key to the LL.