do you ever get the feeling that your rental office is spying on tenants? [Archive]

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Fashionista

10-28-2006, 04:18 PM

I just moved a few months ago into this brand new apartment complex that has rent control. It is located on a rough side of the neighborhood that they are trying to fix up.

The rules of the building are very strict, and I do understand why, but I am getting the impression that the building managers are doing more spying on people than causual monitoring.

There are cameras in the hallways (which are hidden) and cameras at each entrance. The camera's at the entrance are part of the security system and we have access to them through our TVs.

The cameras in the hall we do not have access to and I don't think we are supposed to know that they are there but a few times the rental office has slipped up and said something. Like one time I overheard the people in the office talking, when I was paying my rent, that they took issue with someone in another building having a lot of guest over. None of the other tenants were complaining, there was no proof that she was doing drugs or breaking any of the rules but they were watching her for a long time because she always had a lot of friends over. That somewhat bothered me because there was no real proof of anything breaking the rules but they decided to continue to watch her.

Then a few months ago the rental office sent out a letter saying that they wanted to start a newsletter and they wanted to include tenants birthdays. At first the reply if you would like your birthday included was optional. Now it is mandatory. We got a letter a few weeks ago stating that we must participate and fill out the paperwork to be included in the newsletter. They already have our DOB on file and such because of all the paperwork we had to do, so why are they forcing us to fill it out? At first it was optional and I am assuming that when they didn't get the amount of replies that they wanted they sent a letter trying to "force" our participation.

The list goes on and on. Again I am not talking about watching to make sure things are running smoothly. I am talking about the rental office using the security cameras to watch everything we do hoping to catch us doing something wrong.

does anyone else think or know that their rental office is spying on tenents?

MollyMe

10-30-2006, 01:02 AM

SpaceMonkey

10-30-2006, 01:09 AM

I heard of a local landlord who was rumored to rent his houses to young ladies and peak in on them.

Heh. My senior in college, a local landlord was arrested for doing exactly that, although I didn't know any of the people involved. He had installed hidden cameras in several bathrooms.

Winter Storm

10-30-2006, 11:58 AM

You got cameras? My rental office and grounds are so old, they don't even have internet or email access in their office. I bet they don't even have a fax. It's all old school 'round here.

Fashionista

10-31-2006, 02:14 AM

The last place I had, I thought the manager was really creapy.
I heard of a local landlord who was rumored to rent his houses to young ladies and peak in on them.

I can see why the managers would be concerned about many people coming and going, especially in a rough area. They could have noticed it happening and then decided to look at the tapes.
they weren't only watching the tapes, they were watching her apt in "real time" even after it was determined that there was nothing "illegal" going on. When I overheard the covo at the office the main office lady clearly stated they had no real reason to watch her any longer, while the other office lady wanted to keep watching her (she no longer though works here she got fired). Her friends would come by, leave at a decent hour, her apartment wasn't damaged and there was never any loud noises or rowdy behavior.

I just feel like they are abusing the security system in general. Just the other day the maintence man came up to me and commented how my boyfriend seens to stop by a lot with this grin on his face. I didn't feel comfortable with that comment either

I guess you would have to live in this building to see what I mean. My whole thing is if there is no smoke, then leave people alone. Don't use the cameras to spy on people and snoop.

Fashionista

10-31-2006, 02:17 AM

You got cameras? My rental office and grounds are so old, they don't even have internet or email access in their office. I bet they don't even have a fax. It's all old school 'round here.
Yeh its a brand new building. I think they put $25million into building this place. I just wish they had enough sense to included an elevator because the stairwell was too narrow to get furniture in and out.

But your office doesn't even have internet? WOW. How do they even function like that?

kdhmps

11-09-2006, 11:48 PM

I briefly worked for an apartment community as an assistant property manager. I hated the job but tried to be polite and helpful while I was there. The rest of the staff knew everything about everyone... It is not your imagination... I thought I was going to work in a soap opera everyday. Totally unprofessional.

shimma

11-10-2006, 03:46 AM

Ewww.... yes, I did used to get that feeling at my FI's (just a BF then) old apartment. He and his then-roommate got a call from the leasing office one day demanding they add "the extra tenants" to the lease. They went in to talk with the property manager, swearing up and down that the two of them lived there... the property manager went on to give physical descriptions of me, roommie's GF, our two cars, and how many nights the two of us had stayed over in the last month.

Hee, I got a letter from my own landlord saying I already had a lease thankyouverymuch!

shimma

11-10-2006, 03:47 AM

EmberMae

11-10-2006, 10:22 AM

That's really creepy. I don't think we have cameras. I've had an illegal pet for 2 months and they haven't found out yet.

Winter Storm

11-10-2006, 10:27 AM

That's really creepy. I don't think we have cameras. I've had an illegal pet for 2 months and they haven't found out yet.

My mom has had a prohibited pet for a year now and they still don't know and workers have been in to do work there.

My rental office also doesn't know about one of my cats and I've had her a year.

Winter Storm

11-10-2006, 10:29 AM

But your office doesn't even have internet? WOW. How do they even function like that?
They probably get by with Word or Excel, your basic office functions and a printer.

They don't even have a drop-box. You have to drop rental checks off during business hours by stopping by the office. OLD school.