Mailbox Issue
I have a three family brownstone, I live in the bottom apartment and rent out the top two. The mail for all three units is dropped in my downstairs gate by the mailman and I put the mail for the two tenants out in the secure hallway in unlocked boxes. My new tenant has an…
I have a three family brownstone, I live in the bottom apartment and rent out the top two. The mail for all three units is dropped in my downstairs gate by the mailman and I put the mail for the two tenants out in the secure hallway in unlocked boxes. My new tenant has an issue with not having his own locked mailbox and with me touching his mail. Am I legally obligated to install and give him his own locked mailbox? I think there are maybe two 3-family buildings on my block with those ugly silver units with separate locks, everyone else does it the way we do. Anyone?
“If it were SO important tot he tenant, you’d think he would have noticed and asked about it before signing the lease.”
When I was looking at apartments, I classified any concerns about the places I saw as (1) deal breakers or (2) something else.
If I wanted the apartment, I wouldn’t bother discussing “something else” issues until I had a signed lease. I would only bring up deal breakers.
Once all the deal breakers got sorted out and the lease was signed, I would bring up any “something else” issues (with the understanding that I might not get what I wanted).
DIBS, not suggesting an outdoor installation (unless additional box on the gate). Boxes are recessed in the vestibule wall and keykeepers are recessed in the door surround at parlor level. Different story, and different LL-tenant relationship and obligations when only one tenant or when you have more. Arkady, do you know the tenant has overripe fruit, or is it possible there’s another origin? Not going to argue the fruitfly/spider issue, nor argue whether sdweihe’s giving as good a deal as claimed.
Also, it is OK for the tenant to ask for a different mail situation. But it is equally OK for the LL to say, “no, this is the way we do it here.” If it were SO important tot he tenant, you’d think he would have noticed and asked about it before signing the lease. Wow!!!
It is not the LL reponsibilty to exterminate for fruitflies!! That is insane.
Vinca – How can LL be responsible for a tenant’s having over-ripe fruit?
I agree that the mailboxes are quite unsightly. i wouln’t want them or a key box haning on the side of my stoop.
wow, I am ususally on tenants side but this is 2nd day in a row where I find in favor of landlord.
Tell him/her to rent a PO box if don’t like it -otherwise this is the way it is done.
Lucky the the P.O, is getting the mail to the house at all.
Really…is it so hard to understand that the tenant might not want his bills, magazines, prescriptions, private interests, etc., reviewed by you or other tenants? Frankly, it’s not that hard or costly to install recessed mailboxes in the inside vestibule wall with a keykeeper outside for the letter carrier. Or, it’s not that hard to install a separate hanging box just for this tenant on the gate under the stoop. Finally, it’s also not that hard for the tenant to rent a private box at the local post office. The tenant just moved in and YOU’RE already unhappy; sounds like the complaints are a 2-way street. Also, when it comes to exterminating, that’s your obligation as LL.
“Wanting” something and having the legal right to it are two different things.
Also, fruitflies??? Don’t they mostly come from overripe fruit? You need to get this tenant out. One year lease, I hope!