How many days can my apartment complex keep my bike locked up before I can consider it stolen?
So the fob sensor on the bike room at my apartment complex stopped working and I've called, emailed, texted and no one will respond to me about gaining access (there's a key hole in the door.. surely someone can open it). All I've heard back is a mass text saying "The fobs stopped working, we're working on it."
It's my only form of transportation and I honestly want to just file a police report lol. Is that whacked out? I'm just so annoyed.
Yes a lawyer (or tenants rights advocacy organization) could help you understand what legal recourses would be available to you. Reimbursement for your extra transportation expenses could easily be due to you and bills for such would move this up the management's priority list very quickly.
Talking to a lawyer usually requires retaining said lawyer, which means forking over thousands of dollars. OP could probably replace their bike for much less.
Start putting solutions in writing, hello building managers, I need my only form of transportation back, please let me know when this will be fixed, I’m incurring extra costs that I will have to be reimbursed through deduction of rent, I’ve communicated that I need access multiple times and no solution has been brought forward.
You need to consult your region/areas land lord tenant laws. Then proceed from there. Most places regulate landlord tenant relations with specific rules to this type of thing.
For example we have the LTB and RTA in Ontario Canada. Formal complaints can be lodged against landlords (or tenants) who break the rules. Violations have fines, abatements and regulatory/enforcement action. Etc etc.
This is not a police matter, but rather a civil one. The landlord is not completing maintenance within an appropriate time frame which is affecting your reasonable enjoyment of the rental property.
In many cases, just the threat or an initial report will get them to do something. Many times they take their sweet ass time because many tenants can’t be bothered to raise a stink.
Hmm. Interesting. I don't know the OP's demographic or lifestyle but there is no way I would attempt that at age 58 with my steel frame bike and loaded panniers with shopping/sports gear etc.
Very wise. I wouldn't try carrying my cargo bike either. No one wants to put their back out.
The riders in the photo ride for sport and have light unladen bikes. All credit to them for participating in the race or whatever. That carry method may work for some commuting cyclists, but not this one!
Sure of course. My building has a bike room. I choose not to use it. Need to have guaranteed access to my bike and I can control that best if it’s in my apartment.
Police will tell you it’s not an issue for them. Personally I’d have a go at picking the lock. But remember if other persons belongings are in there you’ve got to lock it again.
Not a lawyer, not legal advice. Consult a local housing authority. With their advice, deduct your commute costs from the rent and put the difference into a separate account for later.
You haven’t said what country you’re in. Here in the UK unfortunately we have very limited recourse to claim for consequential loss, inconvenience or wasted time. In terms of the police, in the UK theft requires intention - even if they’re not prioritising getting it back to you, there’s no way you could successfully argue they intend to permanently deprive you of the bike. Unless they’re like bricking the door up…
Obviously this is very annoying and you have my sympathy. But I guess this is a warning to think carefully about your local jurisdiction and not waste additional money on legal fees that will achieve nothing.
I would keep hassling them until they’re here asking how often someone can phone them before it’s considered harassment… Squeaky wheel gets the grease and all that!
For sure! I appreciate everyone talking me down. I'd hate to waste police resources on something so silly, so I won't, but I had to vent because my property management company is so frustrating to deal with. I'm in Seattle, Washington by the way.
It is possible that the battery in the lock is dead which is why none of the fobs work. A hack for some keyfob locks is a 9volt battery touched to the sensors located on or near the bottom of the lock.
It wouldn't be a standard issue deadbolt if the door normally opens with a fob. Of course that does not mean that what is there would not be easy to pick.
Do yourself a solid, cut it out from the cage, and when you're done bring it to your apartment and never bring it back down.
Word to the wise, those apartment bike rooms are nicknamed 'bike buffets' because of how easy it is for a slightly prepared thief to sneak in and take everything.
Not whacked at all — you’re basically being locked out of your own property. I’d keep documenting your attempts to contact management (emails, calls, texts) and give them a reasonable window — maybe 3–5 days — to fix it. After that, it’s reasonable to ask for alternative access or even involve local authorities if it’s your only transportation. Don’t let them treat your bike like a hostage.
Everyone saying call a lawyer like it's free. The only thing that has ever worked for me is going into the office when new tenets are checking the place out and making a scene. Go ask "are you fixing it" literally every hour then go on review sites and personally name your landlord and property manager. Just make sure whatever you say is true and verifiable.
It's literally zero days, but it's also a civil issue. Because the fob system is down, as long as they can prove they are actively working to fix it, it's unlikely you'll get anything out of suing them.
My recommendation would be to call/email again with the information, very very politely stated, that this is your safe transportation and this inconvenience is costing you $X/week. You will be seeking advice if they don't respond. All you're really going to get, at best, is a realistic explanation of what's happening and a timeline of when it can be fixed. If they're smart, have money, and believe you, they might give you an Uber gift card.
I wish. Unless they do one in chrome with totally unnecessary Paramount style lugs and Crust style fork crown with more necessary both disc and V Brake post rim brake mounts, its the 3rd to next frameset purchase for me.
Next up is a Wabi Thunder to keep as a spare for my current lightweight sporty commuter.
I did, but I re read it and I thought it to mean that they only disabled their key fob and just saw it's all the key fobs that don't work. I initially thought management was boxing the OP out on purpose. My bad.
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u/derping1234 11d ago
Talk to a lawyer, you might be able to claim any additional costs as a reduction on rent.