So upset!

[Running Elk]

I'm so upset right now.

About a week ago my front door broke. I complained to the maintenance in my apartment. Despite being an emergency, as it was very unsafe, it took four days for maintenance to come. They finally came on the forth day. I was asleep but my room mate was up and let the guy in. Without asking, without letting us know, he walked around our home discretely taking pictures of my pets (snakes and bunnies). I didn't know until today.

I get a call today, from some woman in the company saying he sent a bunch of higher-up people in the company all pictures of my home. My pets are well maintained, and despite being a bit cluttered, my home is normal. I have nothing to hide. However, this felt extremely violating. She told me the animals looked "extremely well cared for", but had some concerns that they'd destroy the property. I confirmed they wouldn't, and abruptly made some changes to my rabbit's enclosure to ease her worries/our tension. After making these changes, I called her to let her know. My pets are allowed in my lease. The property has changed hands so many times that a past landlord grandfathered in all of my pets for my own protection. These people are relatively new to owning this property.

I thought all was fine, but then she started asking about my snakes. Long conversation made short, she thinks the rack system is cruel and that they need tons of room to exercise and lots of light. She said she owned snakes as a kid and wonders "how much I let them out for exercise". She has NO IDEA about any BP husbandry. NONE. I explained that the rack held humidity and temperature well, and that my snakes shed and ate better in it. I explained that they are nocturnal. I also explained that I adhere to industry standard as far as my breeding racks go, and that I go a step further by making sure everyone has a hide, a rock or SOMETHING to shed on and for "enrichment". She was like, "okay", but I have a really bad feeling. My snakes are extremely well fed, clean, and healthy, and (as if it matters to them to be held) I handle them almost every day, which I told her. Which is also true. Apparently the maintenance guy is some sort of animal rights guy, and he's pissed that I have pets and that each snake doesn't have like it's own master bedroom (not literally, but thinks they need excessive space). The woman I spoke to supported his photos he took without even asking me. She said "it was his right" and that "I had no right" to be upset.

I have already spoken to a real-estate lawyer, and she said technically it (his photo-shoot) is legal, however unethical and unprofessional it is. I have grounds to terminate my lease early just due to neglecting to fix a broken front door for four days. However, I don't want to leave the place I live in.

This isn't my first instance with maintenance and a huge breach of my comfort/privacy. The first time I called maintenance I was alone with a female friend, and the guy who came in lingered (wouldn't go when the job was done until we basically told him to GTFO sternly) and made really off-color, uncomfortable and semi-aggressive remarks of a predatory nature (about us, our bodies, making gross "jokes", lots of questions about our love lives and way way way too many statements about his) and I complained to the managing company and was completely blown off. Different guy. But I'm beginning to be afraid to call for maintenance. When I mentioned this instance AGAIN today, it was once again blown off, despite feeling like another hugely violating situation. I got a half-hearted "I'll talk to maintenance about it" sort of answer.

I've lived here for four years, through about five different owners/property managers, and never once have I experienced anything like this. I was always on very good terms with my landlord AND the maintenance people, who traditionally have been respectful and interesting in the animals.

I'm so upset. I feel SO violated. My snakes are my world, and I'm more upset about being interrogated about my snakes then what happened the first time maintenance came. I'm in the rabbit community and a lot of people who have excellent husbandry get 'raided' by HRS (rabbit PETA) people, have animals stolen, and spayed/neutered or given away before they can even do anything to fix it. Entire breeding projects have been destroyed by these people. I don't want to be harassed by freaky animal rights people. I don't want to come home to find that this maintenance guy, who has access to keys to my home through the property managers, went in and stole my snakes and released them, or some crazy thing. I feel very uncomfortable with my home being photographed inside and out, without my consent or even knowledge, when I keep a good home, keep my animals well (which the woman agreed with besides her rack concerns!) and would have gladly walked them through and shown them my pets had they asked. I'm not breaking any laws, or my lease, but I have this pit in my stomach that I can't shake. Again, I feel so so so violated and really anxious. Thoughts? Opinions? Support?

[lunasjy]

Well first, once you snap a photo it is yours. You could see a naked woman across from your window, take a picture and post to FB and the woman has no right to ask you to take it down and if it went to court, she would be thrown out on her face. That is pretty stupid in my opinion and you would think it to be a violation of privacy but it is not considered so.

However, by law no one is to enter your home. In your home it is your rules. If the maintenance guy was there to fix your door only, then he should not have entered to house any further and that is your right as a tenant. If anyone attempts to enter your home without a warrant you have every right to what needs to be done to get that person out of the house. You can even arrest him, call the police and wait for them to arrive. It is called citizens arrest. Google it if you need more information.

They can call the SPCA or PETA all they like but the thing is they cannot forcefully take your animals without consent or a warrant.

[Running Elk]

Can PETA or the SPCA get a warrant? I know animal control can, but since I'm not breaking state laws and my animals are clean and cared for I'm not as concerned with that, other than feeling violated more. Based on the pictures taken I seriously doubt that they'd even ever bother - they'd have no reason.

AR organizations have an agenda that's conflicting with keeping reptiles. I don't want them near me.

[lunasjy]

The thing is, no one can enter your house or even take an animal or a child (social services) without a warrant, even then you have right to get them back during a hearing... which i doubt it would come to if you take care of your animals. If your rights as a tenant is being violated, you have every right to cut the lease in half and find a new place.

[Running Elk]

I'm considering it. :/

[OhhWatALoser]

Well first, once you snap a photo it is yours. You could see a naked woman across from your window, take a picture and post to FB and the woman has no right to ask you to take it down and if it went to court, she would be thrown out on her face.

Not true at all, she would say she expected a reasonable degree of privacy in her home.

OP within the law you have nothing to worry about, the maintenance guy or even your landlord cannot go in your domain without permission end story. However if you feel he might not follow that particular law, security or moving would be the only effective options I can think of. Sorry you have to be dealing with utter crap.

I do find it funny how she wants to defend his right to photograph. If she wants to exercise rights I wonder how squatter rights work in your area....

[lunasjy]

Not true at all, she would say she expected a reasonable degree of privacy in her home.

OP within the law you have nothing to worry about, the maintenance guy or even your landlord cannot go in your domain without permission end story. However if you feel he might not follow that particular law, security or moving would be the only effective options I can think of. Sorry you have to be dealing with utter crap.

I do find it funny how she wants to defend his right to photograph. If she wants to exercise rights I wonder how squatter rights work in your area....

It is very true. The picture is officially his and can distribute the photo as he pleases. I did not say he entered the home to take pictures of his neighbor. You do not have to believe me but I hear about it all the time.

Either way, if he had the right to stop the photos, he could have if it was the law. This is how evidence works, how photography works.

There is nothing to worry about with your snakes. If you have the pictures, post them here and we can have a better understanding of what to worry about.

[Daigga]

It is very true. The picture is officially his and can distribute the photo as he pleases. I did not say he entered the home to take pictures of his neighbor. You do not have to believe me but I hear about it all the time.

Either way, if he had the right to stop the photos, he could have if it was the law. This is how evidence works, how photography works.

There is nothing to worry about with your snakes. If you have the pictures, post them here and we can have a better understanding of what to worry about.

No, it is not true at all. Have you not heard all the news of "revenge porn" sites being destroyed by new laws and law suits? The jist of it is that the subject of an image, whether or not they gave consent of the image being taken, has the right to deny it's distribution. You bet the neighbor would win in court, people are constantly winning these cases.

To the OP; go straight to the management company. You would be surprised at how a proper business will stand up straight and take action when bad publicity rears its ugly head and looks them in the eye. All non monopolized businesses are ultimately at the mercy of reputation, and threatening a lawsuit or action through local real estate agents and listers will get their attention (particularly if you had neighbors with similar stories, the more you can pile at their door the better in this case). The worst thing you can do in this situation is stand by quietly and hope things get better.

By the by if you keep you animals in your our their own room, I think you would be allowed to put a lock on that door. May need to double check your lease, but I don't think they usually cover anything besides the front door. Could be wrong on this, but worth checking in any case.

[MontyAndMelissa]

If this really concerns you, go online and print out one of the billions of brochures there are about ball pythons needing a small amount of space to survive. Talk to your roommate about ASKING YOU before anyone comes in the apartment, as your privacy was breached. Property management companies are only supposed to allow two sets of keys per apartment entry door. Management and the Tennant. The maintenence man should NOT have a key. Only for the building (if you live in a building like that.) I work security and I know how the law works in California at least. If they try to make a case about it to local law enforcement, you can easily claim that they took the pictures without your consent. Any time a management company takes pictures of personal property, they are required to have you sign a "media release". What that guy did was illegal, and I would suggest having an adult conversation with the manager and discuss your concerns. Make a list if you have to. Try not to use the words "legal" or "illegal" as they tend to make people jumpy. Next time you make multiple attempts to contact maintanence with no reply, call the non emergency fire department number. Even if it's a broken door. I worked in an apartment complex where a handicapped woman was locked in the building because the door was jammed. The fire Marshall was not happy. As long as you keeping your snakes is legal for where you live, install a chain lock on your front door. It doesn't require a key and can only be opened from the inside. It's about $3 from home Depot. Also, you can order cheap security cameras online. Find out if your management lives on site, if so, there is NO reason for maintanence to have the key to your home.

[MontyAndMelissa]

Can PETA or the SPCA get a warrant? I know animal control can, but since I'm not breaking state laws and my animals are clean and cared for I'm not as concerned with that, other than feeling violated more. Based on the pictures taken I seriously doubt that they'd even ever bother - they'd have no reason.

AR organizations have an agenda that's conflicting with keeping reptiles. I don't want them near me.

Spca can get a warrant. PETA cannot. Since PETA is a non profit company that generally doesn't work with law enforcement they can't get a warrant, unless they get one through Spca.