WHY do people expect anyone to give up their personal lives for a J-O-B???

Disclaimer: I’m not the property manager referenced in this photo. I was copied on the IM complaint from the resident.

So the resident reached out (not to a Tenant’s Council) to complain about this email.

I know I shouldn’t respond with... “well, I wouldn’t expect your job’s secretary to come bang on your door at home to complain that the copier is jammed!”

WHY do people expect anyone to give up their personal lives for a J-O-B???

Our lease specifically says tenants must not bother staff living onsite.

It could have been worded more professionally and it might have been received better. Either way, they are still gonna knock on your door.

When you live onsite keeping residents away from your door is the hardest thing to do but it can be done. It depends on your company's policy on if you can keep them away from your door though.

I put a note on the door that said just because I live here doesn't mean I am on call. Call the number xxx-xxxx. And the on call person will answer.

"Any Resident that knocks on this door for any non emergency will be assessed a $50 fee

I wouldn’t knock on her door at all, ever. If she cannot professionally deliver a grammatically correct and spell-checked email, she most likely, couldn’t fix my issue.

It’s pretty unprofessional. The letter is seething with anger and annoyance. And I TOTALLY get it! Residents should be respectful of the manager and their personal time. But there is a time and a place. A letter to the residents regarding this is DEFINITELY important. But it should be couched in a professional and friendly way

So. Let me be that person. Aside from the message being crass, why exactly was the resident complaining about this? Do they need to knock on her door?

Yes, I’d say it’s acceptable. 2 additional points though: I wouldn’t advertise where I live. If it’s a large complex you can get away with most people not even knowing where your unit is, other than your immediate neighbors. Also, beat this into their head at move in!!!! EMPHASIZE when it’s appropriate to call.

Rachel Lynette Payton Wrong!!!! It only takes 10 minutes to spread through the community where you are!!!!

It sounds like a building and a senior one at that. Resident Councils are allowable under HUD. I’ve heard nightmares about resident councils

I’m truly feeling for the Manager here. I have no idea how many times her door was knocked on and her personal time intruded on by incidental or frivolous complaints.
I am sympathetic to the fact that many of my Manager colleagues have small kids at home, with an evening routine. Or dogs like mine, that take forever to settle back down after someone knocks on my door.
I just think she must have been at her wits end to put this out there and rather than reflect on the fact that she was only asking for respect of her home and personal time that the tenant immediately tries to look for ways to “get her in trouble”...

I actually sent a similar letter out to residents in 1985 like that!

I think it could have been professionally worded but is fair if the system is being abused often. Something along the lines of, “If you have a maintenance related emergency, please be sure to call the ER line first. If you have a medical emergency, please call 9-1-1. While I do live on-site, I do need personal time and space and hope you can respect this request. Please do not knock on my door unless all other emergency options have been exhausted, without response, or if your apartment is 1) actively being flooded or 2) if there is a fire.”

This is absolutely not acceptable for her to post this type of message. She’s a representative of the company whether on the clock or off the clock. This may not be the right line of work for her.

I make it clear to whoever is knocking on my door that it is not the office.

I lived on site for many years when I was property manager and I can honestly say no one ever knocked on my door, at least not for help regarding their apartment. Maybe it was because I always lived on class A properties, I don't know. Residents were trained from the get go what the proper protocol was for emergencies and they followed it.