Working For Justice In Housing

  EXAMINE THE AREA!!!  

Crime seems to be on everyone’s mind these days.  More and more tenants are calling to say that they recently rented an apartment and have now found out that there is a lot of crime in the area.  They are frightened and wonder if they can get out of their lease.  Unfortunately, the answer is that if they break the lease because of crime in the area, the landlord can hold them for lost rent.

Tenants can take action to lessen the chance of their moving into apartments in areas where there is a high risk of crime or where inadequate precautions are taken by management to reduce the risk. Before signing a lease for an apartment, drive through the complex at night to see how well lit the apartment buildings and parking areas are.  Is there excessive foliage providing hiding places for criminals?

Then during the day, seek to interview tenants on how safe the area seems to be and how responsive management is to security concerns. For example, if a light goes out on an exterior entrance or in the parking area, does management immediately replace the bulb or take weeks to do so.  Are halls and stairwells properly lit?  Does management inform a tenant in advance if their staff need to enter the apartment?  Is management careless with the keys to the apartments?

When you inspect an apartment for rental:

• Does it have a solid door and door frame and a one-inch dead bolt lock?

• Is there a wide angle peephole in the door?

• Will management have the locks changed for you? 

• Be especially careful about ground floor apartments, and be aware that management does not have to provide bars for windows.

• Ask about secure window locks.

Once you move into an apartment, it would be wise to take the following precautions, no matter where you live.  Remember that crime has no boundaries.

• Use only your first initial on mail boxes or in the telephone directory.  Do not provide personal information, including your name, on your answering machine.  Avoid phrases that would indicate that you live alone or are not at home, such as "I am not here right now."

• When away, use automatic timers which can switch on and off lights and radio/TV at varying times

• Keep an inventory of your possessions.  Mark your valuables for identification by engraving your drivers license followed by letters “MD.”

• Carry renters’ insurance, which not only covers your possessions, but gives you liability protection.

• Always park in well lit areas.  Be alert as you leave or approach your apartment or car.  Have your keys ready.  Look to see if anyone is in or around the car.

• Know your neighbors.  Seek to organize an apartment block watch program with the cooperation of your landlord and your local police department.   The police are anxious to help and have excellent, free materials on crime prevention. Unfortunately, some management companies resist such activities either because they are reluctant to emphasize crime or they fear that there may be some additional costs involved in making their complex more secure.

Click here to see what Maryland law says about this issue

Last date  reviewed: 03/06/08 (PLL/M.A.J.)