Question for the group on a recent situation. Jr. High school aged minor stops in to the office, locked out

Question for the group on a recent situation. Jr. High school aged minor stops in to the office, locked out of the home because they forgot their keys. Do you give them a copy? Let them in to their place? Call parents?

I know how I want my team to handle this, but one of my team members is having a difference of opinion and I’m interested in how others might explain the best way to handle the situation. What are your thoughts?

No, it’s a minor child and you don’t know the situation. Call the parents (or leaseholders) and get their permission to let the child in.

Melissa Marie this was exactly my thought. We had a situation where a non-custodial parent had taken a child's keys from them. We ended up having to change locks, once this was discovered. You just don't know what someone's situation is day-to-day or who might be waiting for that kid to get home alone. At least if the adults in the household are aware and consent, they are taking on that liability. Not us.

Is he on the lease? If so, I'd unlock the door for him. If not, call his parent and ask for written permission to let him in. Or, call parent either way to make sure he's allowed to be home alone.

Ang C Schmitz the team member didn’t check this first, but they are on the lease as an occupant. They aren’t a “leaseholder” because they aren’t 18 or older.

Ang C Schmitz the challenge I have with this is that I can’t verify the kid is the right kid. He could say he’s Johnny Bravo but really be Johnnys friend Billy who wants Johnnys Xbox

Joe Mendez valid

Joe Mendez Jr high kids usually have a school ID or you could ask them their parents middle name or birthday to verify them.

Call the parents

Always call parents first

I get parents permission first

Depends on the law in your area. Some cities have an age limit that a child can be home alone.

I would check the lease see if he is listed as occupant and then call parents

Retired now but in retrospect would have an addendum addressing what to do for minors under certain circumstances. Mainly lockouts and an extra emergency name & number if leasehold can't be contacted.I think this would be an excellent time to quickly review with them that when they leave their dependents they are ultimately leaving them with us.Yes, there is already too much paperwork but there is a disconnect in what we really need on all residents not just lease holders.

I always call parents and ask them to email permission. We all have smart phones, quick and easy and covers us from any liability.

The old place I worked at used to have us call the parent to verify and then we have them the key to get let in.

I would call the parent/lease holder regardless if the minor is listed on the lease or not. If permission to provide access is granted over the phone, I then ask for it in writing as well. This reduces liability. I also require leaseholders to grant permission in writing if their listed occupant need access into their apartment, so that really avoids putting us in sticky situations like this.

Permission in writing & walk them to the unit

I call the parent and get permission then walk the child over and unlock the door myself. If the parent doesn't answer and we know for certain the child lives there, I let the child in and send an email and text to the parent letting go them know we let their kiddo in. If we don't know the child lives there (we don't recognize them and they aren't listed as an occupant) then I would still call for permission and get it in writing that we can allow access. If the parent doesn't answer then, we send a text/email and have the kiddo wait in the office while we wait to grant access.

Call parents and if permission given, unlock the door

I always call the parents unless I recognize the kid.

If they are listed on the lease as an occupant, give key. If not listed, call parents and get permission in writing.

Call the parents

This is to be covered at move-in. Anyone listed as an occupant, unless listed otherwise. My personal policy, only the person listed and not a slew of friends, text parents to inform them, under 15 call/text parents first — again, usually these instructions are noted in the software.Parents that have teenage kids, I’ve given some realtor style lockboxes - they can create a secret code and leave a key for the kids to use. Yes, I checked into liability - as long as I don’t know the code, I am simply providing a piece of hardware. That’s actually the preferred solution among the parents.

Chris Finetto I like that idea!

So I had this situation happen where I live. I was told because she was under 18 they could not open the door for her. They said because if something happened they would be liable. I told her that not only am I in the industry but my 16 year old is out in the rain and I work 45 minutes away. They told me that was not their problem and basically hung up on me. I offered to send my ID along with a written letter of consent and they refused. Luckily the maintenance guy on site, who we know ( and I told the girl that) saw her and opened the door before I even got to call my daughter back to tell her I would have to come home to let her in.

Debbie Haskell that's terrible!

Debbie Haskell. Unreal. I would never treat a resident that way.

Call the parents and let them in if necessary

Keep them safe in the office and call parents.

I always call the lease holder

Call parents.

Call parents. I know it’s strange but I have had parents before that didn’t want their key given out to their kids.

We have too.

Under 18 nope...liability. also you can't verify the parent on the phone. Offer him to sit in the community area.

Call the parents.

Under 18, call parents and charge for a lock out call.