Although a rental property is not owned by a tenant, expectations of privacy remain sacrosanct. Tenants have expectations on who can enter a rental unit and an understanding of why someone may gain access to the property while the renter is not home.
Privacy is critically important to a renter but there may be legitimate reasons a property can be accessed without the renter’s presence.
From thebalancesmb.com (May 01, 18):
Under landlord tenant law, the landlord is allowed to enter a tenant’s rental unit for issues related to:
• The maintenance of the property.
• The sale or rental of the property.
• Safety or health concerns.
• When granted the legal right to by a court of law.
thebalancesmb.com/a-landlord-s-right-to-enter-rental-property-2125097
It is incumbent on the landlord and/or property manager to maintain and respect the privacy of a renter, as well as the security of personal property within the rental unit.
Oftentimes renters do not have a clear understanding of what maintenance responsibilities are placed upon the renter and those placed upon the landlord or property owner.
It is imperative that all maintenance people are thoroughly background checked prior to entering into a rental property and this must be the responsibility of the landlord. Just as a tenant background check is a critical tool in vetting a renter, background screening or confirming background screening of maintenance crews is just as important.
From LettingAgentToday.co.uk (May 01, 18):
A new survey of tenants suggests many know little about essential maintenance of their property, and often fail to check the professional credentials of tradespeople. lettingagenttoday.co.uk/breaking-news/2018/4/survey-finds-many-tenants-dont-check-tradespeoples-credentials
Checking a background on anyone entering a rental property should be of paramount importance. Failure to do so could prove dangerous.
Landlords must provide advanced notice for entry into a rental unit as well as conduct entry during typical and normal operating hours.
In Charlotte, North Carolina residents of an apartment complex have concerns about maintenance personnel entering rental units.
From WSOCtv.com (Nov. 03, 17):
They said with the high cost of rent, $1,700 to $2,200 monthly per unit, they thought they were pricing themselves out of certain security problems.
But, they said valuables have been disappearing from apartments and the staff is not responding to their complaints. wsoctv.com/news/apartment-maintenance-workers-criminal-past-raises-residents-concerns/637319997
Ultimately a landlord must create a safe environment for tenants and manage who goes into a rental property. Just as a landlord conducts tenant screening on all applicants, maintenance personnel should be background checked as well.
Background screening on maintenance personnel should include:
- Criminal Background Checks
- Sex Offender Registry Review
- Social Security Number Trace with Address History
Investigating the claims of the residents of the Charlotte apartment complex a local news agency made some startling discoveries regarding maintenance personnel.
From WSOCtv.com (Nov. 03, 17):
A Channel 9 investigation uncovered that … served prison time in California for second-degree burglary and defrauding an innkeeper. ibid
Knowing that maintenance personnel and others that get access to a tenant’s private apartment could be thieves or criminals makes it paramount that all individuals given access to an apartment are properly background checked by the landlord or property manager before access is granted. Furthermore, landlords and property managers should work with a well-qualified tenant screening agency for all apartment applicants and use a well-qualified background screening agency for vetting of maintenance personnel.
To learn more about who can enter a private apartment as well as why they are allowed in; and how background screening of maintenance people and others given access to the apartment remains essential read recent TenantScreeningUSA.com press release: Entering a Rental Property; Who and Why