tenant is refusing to give me access for repairs Mon-Fri

There are two minor repairs which need to be made in this tenant’s apartment. She has refused to make an appointment any day but Saturday. My handyman works Monday to Friday. This is the email I sent her: _”The contractor is now available 8am-4pm Monday-Friday. He may be available on a specific evening._
_This is a normal and reasonable schedule. Refusing to make an appointment within this timeframe will be considered denial of access. Any damage which may be caused by that leak will be your responsibility which means that you will be responsible for the cost of repairing the damage.”_ She claims she works everyday till 8:30 (which is strange because until now I’ve often seen her around during the day and evening). Also claims she can’t get anyone else to give me access. And she claims it’s not denial of access because she is offering Saturday, and told me to get a different contractor. Both my handyman and I are not available on that day and I think Monday-Friday is reasonable. Is this denial of access?   By the way, a non-payment case is in process against this tenant. I know from experience with her that she will come to court with a defense of failure to make repairs. I have nine tenants and this is the only one who gives me any kind of problem. I have keys to all the other apartments and those tenants give me access at almost any time, most of them even when they’re not home (with notification of course). This one refuses even to give me a key.  Any suggestions? thanks

starfish11040

in Landlord 13 years and 4 months ago

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owl | 13 years and 3 months ago

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you need to get into the apartment asap,and fix the leak for benefit of the other tenants. Get the petition signed  by the tenants and take it from there. tenant pressure

bedstuytownhouse | 13 years and 4 months ago

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My sympathies…she sounds like a pro.  Just got rid of some of those myself.  May be time to consult an attorney.  Can you buy her out?  That’s what we had to do, unfortunately.  There are ways around it without cutting a check as in you can forgive the owed rent if they vacate by a certain date – that’s what we did but we also got a warrant of eviction which will follow them for an extended period of time.

daveinbedstuy | 13 years and 4 months ago

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The sense of entitlement that many tenants have is what’s egregious.     Consult an attorney on the lock issue.  I suspect though that the RS lease will give you the answer.

bowl-of-dicks | 13 years and 4 months ago

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Not a fan of RS tenants, but as a tenant myself, I don’t think demanding a Saturday appointment is all that egregious. Hey, some people simply can not take work off to babysit a repairman. And yes, I would absolutely want to be there during the repairman’s visit. Period.

daveinbedstuy | 13 years and 4 months ago

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Change the lock and enter.  Enough is enough.

starfish11040 | 13 years and 4 months ago

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She’s now threatening to require proof that my handyman is licensed to make the toilet leak repair. This handyman has done small plumbing jobs for me dozens of times over the years.Can she force me to get a licensed plumber? Is a licensed plumber legally required to make that repair?

starfish11040 | 13 years and 4 months ago

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I sent her another email: _I have offered to make the repairs at reasonable times. I’m using “reasonable” in the legal sense. According to NYC law:_
_”No tenant shall refuse to permit the owner, or his or her agent or employee, to enter such tenant’s dwelling unit or other space under his or her control to make repairs or improvements required by this code or other law or to inspect such apartment or other space to determine compliance with this code or any other provision of law, if the right of entry is exercised at a reasonable time and in a reasonable manner._
_Hours when access to be permitted. Except in emergencies, access to an apartment, suite of rooms, or rooms, shall be limited, to the hours between nine antemeridian and five post-meridian. Access shall not be required on Saturdays, Sundays or legal holidays except in emergencies.”_ _The repairs can start as early as 8am. The tile replacement will take no longer than one hour. The toilet leak repair time cannot be known until the contractor sees what the problem is. If necessary the two repairs can be done on separate days. What time do you have to leave for work?_
_If this is not acceptable to you and if you really are not home M-F until 8:30 then you are responsible for having someone else allow access._ _Please don’t force me to send you a certified letter. It will legally confirm that you are in denial of access_. I’m really trying to be truly reasonable. She’s a pain.

daveinbedstuy | 13 years and 4 months ago

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You need to have control over the ability to enter the apartment.  Change the lock, give her a key and tell her not to change it again. Don’t renew the lease on this one.

bedstuytownhouse | 13 years and 4 months ago

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This should be a lesson to keep a key for each and every apartment you own.  What would you do if there was water gushing from her apartment into one below hers and she wasn’t home?

bedstuytownhouse | 13 years and 4 months ago

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I would consider a leak an emergency repair and you are allowed within your rights as a landlord, which should be spelled out in your lease, access to the apartment whenever you want.  Send her a certified letter stating that and when you and the repair person will be coming and then just enter her apartment.  You may want to call the cops just to witness the incident.