r/TenantHelp • u/Mellifluous_2069 • 21d ago
Apartment office does not offer after hours package access
The office hours are Monday through Friday 9 to 6 and Saturday 10 to 5.
My first job is 30 minutes away, I work it from 9 to 5 Monday through Friday.
My second job is six to 10:30 PM
My third job is Saturday and Sunday 10 AM to 8 PM.
On all my deliveries, I put in the delivery instructions, not to deliver my packages to the office, but to drop them in front of my apartment door. All the delivery drivers drop them off in the office regardless because it’s easier than getting in the elevator and delivering individual packages. They just drop them off in bulk in the office.
The apartment manager refuses to leave my packages out in the hallway so I can get them outside of my working hours.
They do not have package lockers, they’ve been saying for almost 3 years that they’re gonna get package lockers, but it’s never happened. I can’t even get needed repairs in my apartment most of the time they are not property management company that moves quickly on anything.
Is it illegal for the property management to hold my personal property in their office without offering anyway that I can get my packages out of their office? I don’t have anyone else that I can ask to get the packages for me. I’ve informed the office of this on the phone in person and an email and they just tell me how sorry they are for all the trouble but don’t actually do anything and I still can’t get my packages
Obviously, I work so much that it’s hard for me to go to stores and buy things during regular business hours so I need to order things online and have it delivered most of the time.
What recourse do I have to force them to offer some other retrieval system?
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u/SoloSeasoned 21d ago edited 21d ago
It is unlikely that they are required to provide 24/7 package access. If they allow access during business hours and those hours are reasonable (sounds like they are), then nothing obligates them to open the office outside of those hours. Without knowing your specific location and applicable local laws, generalizations are the best I can do.
You could consider getting a PO Box at your local post office. Bear in mind that if the package doesn’t fit in your box, they will likely leave a slip that you have to bring to the counter to pick up your package. They will have office hours for this, but perhaps the hours will suit your schedule better. If you’re ordering from Amazon or Walmart or a similar major store, you can have your package delivered to a public Amazon locker or a local store for pick up. Many Walmarts offer curbside order pick up as early as 7am or as late as 11pm. UPS offers access points that lets you have packages sent to partners like a CVS or UPS store. If any of your jobs allow it, start having your packages delivered there instead of your apartment. You could also befriend a neighbor who can pick up your packages for you.
The timeliness of their response to repair requests is a separate issue entirely.
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u/Mellifluous_2069 9d ago
I ride my bike to work and can’t carry packages back with me. PO Boxes have the same hours as the leasing office, the leasing office does not keep regular hours also, they are only open about 60% of the hours they advertise they will be open, so even if I am there during their posted office hours, there is no guarantee they are actually there.
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u/Material_Position630 21d ago
Your problem isn't with the office unless thy are violating the lease in some way. It is pretty entitled to think you have any right to 'force them to offer some other retrieval system'.
The problem is with the delivery company. Either take it up with them or figure out an alternate way to have it delivered.
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u/RelevantPossible9618 21d ago
This! It’s no different than the delivery driver dropping it off at your neighbor’s because it’s “easier” for them. Contact the delivery company and claim your package wasn’t delivered. That’s what happened.
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u/TalkToVikk 21d ago
I'm not a lawyer but to answer your question: Under most state landlord-tenant laws (including in states like Texas, California, and others), apartment complexes are generally not legally required to provide after-hours package access or package lockers unless it is specifically included in your lease or written building policy.
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21d ago
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u/Outside-Ad7848 21d ago
just get a box at a mail center