Keys to Apartment

I believe you can change the lock of your apartment. You may have to leave a copy of your key with the “key shure” system as the coop may need to access your apartment for an emergency like leak. If $12 is the only thing bothering you, suck it up.

I'm with jelj on this one. It's one thing for a board to make a decision you disagree with -- it happens all the time in my building, in all buildings -- it's sort of the price of representative democracy. But to move control of the building and unit access from the hands of the building to the hands of the agent -- sounds like a security risk.

I would ask why they did that -- maybe the building didn't want to take on the insurance risk of having all the codes. (One of our outside doors is a MasterLock, and our building has lost the code, so it's a huge pain to get a copy of that door key).

Then I would get a couple extra keys made and stash them with family or friends or neighbors so you can get to them if you need them.

I wonder if they're trying to crack down on AirBNB rentals with this?

It is highly unlikely you will get a multi-T-Lock key made for less than $12. While I agree that this is overreaching by the board, most buildings I have been in required management to be given keys, and having a key is no different than having the multi-T code. Unless this is a large building, the "building" could not possibly take possession of the keys, so there is nowhere for them to go beside the management company. Still, the idea that you need to go through the management company to replace a key you dropped down a subway grate is nutty.

The purpose of Mulit-T-Locks is to limit the duplication process. The Board opted out of giving the code on a card to the owners. Instead you must go to the managing agent for the code key, a big security flag for me.

The cost of the keys is neglible to me since I have paid less than $10 to have copies made. I also do not have a problem with giving the building a copy of my key in case an emergency arises. There are no AirBNBs in our building.

Jelj, My understanding is that you can get your own lock in a coop or condo. You may have to leave a copy with the doorman. Have you explored this?

https://www.brickunderground.com/blog/2012/01/ask_an_expert_do_i_have_to_give_the_super_a_key_to_my_apartment

300 Mercer is spot on. The building and the manging agent need your keys... if you had a flood that damaged the apartment below you and they did not have the key they could be sued for not having the key. Most small non-doorman buildings have two copies. 1 in the managing agents office and 1 somewhere in the building in a lock box (in my old building it was in the elevator room). Most of the time, they just get used when someone is locked out.

300 Mercer: I have always given my keys to the supper/doorman. They keep it in a safe and you must sign out the key.

The problem is that they are installing Mul-T-Locks which require a key card with a code on it to make new keys. The board opted to not get the key card and has given the codes to the managing agent. So I have to contact the managin agent to get new or extra keys made. This defeats the purpose of key security since I should be the only one to get new keys made. It is like living in a hotel where the management controls access to your apartment. This is outrageous.

Believe you can change the lock to whatever you like legally. You may want to explore that.

My thought one is that the keys are on-site in my building, and in every NYC co-op or condo I've ever lived in. A hundred or two hundred keys, laid flat, don't take up too much room.

My thought two is that it probably is an anti-AirBnB measure (are you sure your building doesn't have any? my slightly-less-than-100-unit building generally has two AirBnBs at any one time -- it's like playing Whack'a'Mole to get them out) but that electronic front door locks could probably accomplish the same thing, and in a less irritating fashion.

In my opinion, I do not feel it is a constructive use of time to argue this policy with the managing agent or board. If you feel uncomfortable with the managing agent having the means to duplicate keys to your unit, change the cylinder on your door. Either do it yourself or surreptitiously have a locksmith do it. Keep in mind that if the building needs immediate entry in the event of an emergency, the super will need to drill open the cylinder or have a locksmith do. Expect to be billed for this service.

When I moved into my current residence, the super asked for a copy of my key. I had made about 10 copies for various contractors. The super used his key to enter the apartment and to check on the renovation progress during the daytime. Completely acceptable and reasonable in my book. Once everything was complete and signed off, I changed the lock myself and did not provide the building with a new key. A trusted friend who lives across the street has a copy in the rare event of an emergency.

Insurance risk: You may be on the hook for substantial expenses when your insurance company refuses to pay for damages when something goes substantially wrong inside your apartment, and building management cannot get immediate access, and you are not in compliance with the rules that you agreed to as part of your occupancy/ownership/ tenancy. If you want perfect control of keys, buy a house. And having a key across the street may not cut it, even if you have provided building management with your friend's phone #.

I have to agree. It's a sad situation if you buy into a building and feel you can't trust the super with a key.

The issue here is that the board/agent appear to want to maintain control over new keys being cut for apartments, which clearly seems to be targeted AirBnB or hostel-type situations - if someone asks for ten keys for a 1-bedroom I'm sure the building is going to ask a lot of questions. I can understand if this rubs you the wrong way, but from a security standpoint there's no additional risk if the building already has your keys; the agent can break into your apartment anyway then. So the real issue is whether you want to make more keys without any interference from the building; if so getting your own lock would seem to be the right solution, but it's certainly going to cost you more than the fees for additional keys the building is charging.

I changed the cylinders on my door with a new MulTLock cylinders. I gave a copy to my super. I not only found out the super has all the key codes for the locks by apartment number, but the locksmith has a copy also.

The super told me that I should receive a notice shortly that you have to get PERMISSION from the Cooperative Board to change your cylinders. This is outrageous. No one uses the place as an AirBnB since you are not let into the building if you don't live there. If someone has permission to enter your apartment, you have to list them on BuildingLink anyway.

Wondering if you have spoken with someone on the board and asked them whether they have checked their legal right to control the entrance lock cylinders to the apartment.

The Board is unresponsive to personal communications. I have a neighbor who has been on the Board for years and she won't discuss anything about decisions made. Most of the people on the Board have been on for ages, since they don't have a time limit for slots.

However, they have done excellent work on the hallway and elevator renovations. They seem to hire the best people. They installed a storage room and gym and did an excellent job there also. The building seems well run.

I don't think they have the legal right to control the entrance locks to every apartment.

I was on a condo board for 10 years, first as secretary, then treasurer, and the president. We wanted to install a computerized key lock box and the building's lawyer said we would have to vote on this at the next annual meeting. We did not have the legal right to control the keys in this manner. (Obviously there were reasons for doing this based on prior problems in the building.) That was 15 years ago.

The lock box was turned down by the majority of the building. However, we notified people that if they did not provide a key and there was an emergency in their apartment in their absence, we had the right to break in. We also installed a sign in/sign out sheet for non-residents and we indicated whether they were given a key.

Worth checking with your real estate lawyer. While the coop has a right to access your apartment for emergency, do not think they have a right to control the lock. You can also ignore the letter from the managing agent. Curious who the management company is? I know some who bully unit owners and share holders but cater to the board President or sponsor. In most cases, board just does what the managing agent tells them to do if they are not fully engaged.

Here is my email in case you are wondering if we are dealing with the same managing agent.
300streeteasy@gmail.com

There are more than a few Coop attorneys who tell boards that they can do whatever they want and hang it on the business judgement rule.

30, Not sure we discussed it before but “common law” may take precedent over “business judgement rule”.

30, Not sure we discussed it before but “common law” may take precedent over “business judgement rule”.

Perhaps only for condos as they are “real property”.

In my building (coop) the super explained to me the building is responsible for door replacement/repair and the owner is responsible for the knob and key(s). I can't imagine any court going along with rekey limitations especially if you give a copy to the super.