Isn't this my super's job???

brooklynleather

Subject: Isn't this my super's job???

My super said that we must provide a deadbolt and that the building does not. I looked it up, and it seems they just need to provide a lock, not necessarily a deadbolt. Begrudgingly I went to home depot and got one. He said he could install or someone else could. So we said okay, thanks you can do it.


He finished and then I called about picking up the keys a few days later to which he told me "Oh by the way that [installation] cost you $60, but I'll do it for $30." There was no mention of a fee prior to this.

Isn't this sort of thing the responsibility of the super without being charged an extra fee? I am thinking of calling the management to clear things up, but I wonder if anyone has had a similar experience or knows what the deal is.

Also, the super says he will not provide screens for the windows. I also find that pretty bootleg as now I need to buy 8 screens and who the hell sells full size window screens for fall/winter? (Actually, if you know please tell me!)

Thanks....

daver

Well, the super should have told you what he was going to charge prior to doing it. Having said that, $30 is not bad. While you are allowed to install additional locks on your apartment, you do have to pay for the installation and maintenance of them yourself. And- you have to provide the landlord with a key if they request it.

brooklynleather

I found it really sketchy he never mentioned charging us before that. I assumed changing lightbulbs, locks, fixing toilets etc was within the responsibilities of a super. Installing an air conditioner, etc. I have always tipped for though actually haven't ever been charged for. This is the first time a super has ever charged me and therefore mentioned that it was for a fee after the fact.

Agreed $30 isn't bad but from now on I am going to have to ask him before he does anything how much it will cost since he was less than transparent this time.

Thanks for the tip.

daver

Oh yeah, regarding the screens, they are required to provide window guards for kids falling, not screens.

There _is_ however some weirdness involving rent regulated apartments where they might be required to do them though. It would play out that if there are screens on other apartments' windows that were provided by the building, or there were previously building providing screens on your apartment, then they could be conceivably required to replace your screens as a function of building maintenance under the rent regulation guidelines. Maybe. It is a bit murky and unclear.

brooklynleather

Yeah, I tried to see if other windows had screens, which they didn't appear to. But I don't want my cats falling out the windows or bugs getting in. They did offer the window guards--for $10 each and we passed. I rather have screens. I can't imagine hardware stores carry them this time of year thoguh.

daver

brooklynleather wrote: They did offer the window guards--for $10 each and we passed.

That's funny, in a bad way, most landlords will do this for free. $10 each is the MAX they can charge under the law. FWIW, under the same law, a tenant can spread out the payments on the $10 each monthly over up to three years if they want.

MOD

Uhg, see that's the problem with some of the places you rent that are cheap, you end up with a cheap landlord.

The deadbolt and screen thing is stupid. The owners of my building just installed new bolts on request to one of the tenants (free!). And they would never rent a place with out screens, who's ever heard of that? (rhetorical question)

Sorry, BL sounds like you found yourself a cheap, asshole landlord. I've had them in the past, so you're not alone.

brooklynleather

my current landlord just has 3 apts including his own so he replaced deadbolts, insalled a new one when we wanted one etc all for free.


The building i am moving into is very large and owned by a management company. Should I just call them and see what is up? Is it maybe just the super that dooesn't know what is going on?

Coincidentally, this apt is significantly more expensive than the one we are leaving!

darla

I would call the mgmt company. Many supers are a**holes especially if they have been at the bldg for a while. My old super was the same way.

He had wanted a "fee" from me for putting through my application and getting it approved since I did not go through a broker. Well, I pretended I did not even hear that since he did nothing but show me the apts. I had to send in all the paperwork including tax filings, etc.

Deadbolts are the landlords responsibility. Any additional locks are your responsibility. I had a locksmith install an additional lock for me and it was $120. So $30 is great if he was upfront about it.

daver

It seems odd that the Super would be pushed the letter of the law on all things if the landlord wasn't behind it, but giving a call to the management company and seeing if they will budge on any of it sounds like a decent idea to me as well. Worst case, they'll just reiterate what he already said, which doesn't put you in a worse position.

flux

darla - the same thing happened to me once when i wanted to rent an apartment on ocean pkwy. i called the managment company and they said to go to the super who will show you the apartment. the super was a middle aged man and after seeing the apartment the supers wife said "you do understand that you have to pay us one month fee for showing you the apartment, right?!"

I walked out and bought a condo a few months later. this was a long time ago when condo's were still affordable

modsquad

The best lock for a door. Dr. Fox's original police lock.

I'm curious. Is this door an old style wooden door? A wooden frame also? Maybe a wooden frame that has signs of a break in. What is the wall like immediately next to the locks. Does it sound hollow? Did the super simply use the screws provided? $30 is pretty cheap, maybe too cheap.

I know I'm being annoying, but I mean well. :P

modsquad

This is the newest type of deadbolt.

http://www.downinthelab.com/raframed.htm

brooklynleather

we want a relatively expensive deadbold and the door and building are solid like a rock.

brooklynleather

hey modsquad, i dont think that guy is gonna fit in the little whole

modsquad

Sometimes the easiest way to get in is to punch a hole through the wall next to the lock, reach in and open the deadbolt. Some people install a deadbolt that is keyed on both sides. Illegal, but they do buy you time. Anyway, if the door and frame are strong you might want to screw a piece of plywood to the wall next to the door locks unless the wall is ...

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=6920511104671919387&ei=3k3dSMasIonGqQLQrKSsCw&q=solid+like+a+rock&vt=lf&hl=en

brooklynleather

there was already a hole for the deadbolt. im too sick to call the management company but i feel like we got scammed. i dont understand how we got charged for this.

modsquad

OK, no more fooling around!

New York City Housing Maintenance Code (Administrative Code of City of NY) § 27-2043:

§ 27-2043. Locks in dwelling unit doors.

a. The owner of a dwelling shall provide a key lock in the entrance door to each dwelling unit and at least one key. In a class A multiple dwelling such door shall be equipped with a heavy duty latch set and a heavy duty dead bolt operable by a key from the outside and a thumb-turn from the inside.

b. Each dwelling unit entrance door in a class A multiple dwelling shall also be equipped with a chain door guard so as to permit partial opening of the door.


(Emphasis added.) A "Class 'A'" multiple dwelling is a multiple dwelling which is generally occupied for permanent residence purposes. Class "A" multiple dwellings include apartments buildings and "apartment hotels," and most other types of apartments (Multiple Dwelling Law § 4 [8] [a]).

In addition, note that Multiple Dwelling Law Multiple Dwelling Law § 51-c gives a tenant in a multiple dwelling the right to to install and maintain a separate lock up to three inches in circumference in his or her apartment entrance door, provided that a duplicate key to the lock shall be supplied to the landlord or his agent upon his request.

Most new apartment doors have a "lock set". That's a combination of the slam lock and a deadbolt in one unit. A new 2 hour fire rated door usually has an opening to accommodate this. If your door has the "slam", the piece that locks you out when you forget your keys, then it should have the "deadbolt", the piece that locks by continuing to turn the key. If you have both of these in the lock set then the LL has fulfilled his obligation.

brooklynleather

Oy all this technical lock talk is difficult to understand but I am going to guess that the existing lock in the door that you stick a fey in and the knob is the only lock required and while annoying that my super is making us pay to install the deadbolt i am not going to fight it.

I sincerely appreciate your research and help in this matter though!!

I am still hunting for full/real window screens to prevent kitty escape artists. Usually hardware stores only carry them in spring/summer though.

tropicalproducts

brooklynleather wrote: I am still hunting for full/real window screens to prevent kitty escape artists. Usually hardware stores only carry them in spring/summer though.

Home Depot (sorry) carries kits to build custom screens, which isn't very complicated, and should have them year-round.

brooklynleather

Oh that's cool I just hope they aren't crazy expensive (8 windows to cover).

I appreciate the time though.

whatchuwant

Dollar stores all carry screens. Cheap.

bklynsoulmomma

The variety stores on Fulton still carry screens. (Fulton and Nostrand) or Fulton near Kingston as well.

Just ask someone, and they'll go to the back to get them too.

brooklynred87

FWIW, I've lived all over the city -- at a variety of price points -- and have always had to supply my own screens.

So, on this issue, it's not just you.

brooklynleather

bklynsoulmomma - Awesome! I will go tomorrow. Thanks so much.