Neighbors' Subleasing

[Mrs. D]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? DC

One of the crazy fall-outs from the recent election is a sort of "black market" for rentals in DC for the inauguration. While we are planning on staying here, our neighbors are checking out for the week and subleasing their apartments to complete strangers they found on Craigslist. Our LL has blessed this arrangement as she has been cut in on the windfall by the other tenants.

Of course having completely un-vetted strangers living in the same building is distressing, but especially so since all that separates their apartments from ours (via the old servant's staircase) is a rather flimsy door. Outside of having renter's insurance (which we do) and making sure that door is locked, can anyone suggest some ways to keep ourselves and our stuff safe? That staircase is legally a fire escape for the 4th floor, so we can't request locks on our side on the doors upstairs, but would we be justified in requesting a more sturdy door/lock? Does the landlord have some obligation to provide a reasonable way for us to secure our living space? We've never pressed for a better door/lock before because we knew all the tenants were subject to credit and criminal background checks as part of the rental application, but now we're going to be subject to random and unchecked people for a week.

 

[FarmerJ]

Look for a portable alarm system that can be easily removed later, Perhaps one that is based on motion that just hangs on the door, or is aimed at the door, just as long as you can come along on the backside of it to shut it off when you are going to be home, OTHERwise perhaps a burglar bar that fits under the door knob and rest against the floor, OR something as heavy as a big upright freezer in front of the door ? YES you could ask the LL for better locks , its possible the LL might say no. With out knowing how much you really like your LL you could also learn from your city housing inspections desk what kind of doors are permitted when the door is used to access a common hall. IF you go for new deadbolt for that door and the LL approves then go to a local lock smith shop or hardware store and also buy a U shaped metal sleave that goes on the door first. It can help re inforce the door so the door cannot be easily cracked at the lock and heavy duty strike plates , they are alot bigger than regular ones. Those sleaves are not perfect but they do slow down break ins since there would be one hell of alot more noise made by someone having to literally break the door up. Keep all communications with the LL about this in writting , especially if you learn the door does not meet code. ( have your nieghbors volunteered any info like them running criminal background checks on the short term renters ?)

 

[Mrs. D]

Called the code office, and their short (and terse) answer was that all that is required is a basic lock unless the door has outside access. Since the only access to the doors upstairs is behind other locked doors, LL's not required to put in anything more sturdy. E-mailed the LL, she said she would be fine with us putting in a deadbolt on our end of the stairs, so long as we give her a key. I'll write her a real letter this evening informing her of our intention to add the lock, enclosing a copy of the e-mail, and send her a key as soon as we get this in.

Of course the neighbors aren't checking up on the people they rented to. When I asked about whether they were comfortable letting complete strangers stay in their place when they were gone, their response was "anyone who can come up with that kind of money must be fine." I'm guessing, based on what I've been seeing in the news and hearing from others, that they probably (conservatively) pulled down 6-8K for the 1 bedroom and 8-12K for the 2 bedroom for the week. Hope it's worth it for them.