California landlord not providing locked mailboxes ..stolen mail

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California landlord not providing locked mailboxes ..stolen mail

Pamela Smith
Member since 2021 · 1 post · 0 votes

Hi I am a California  tenant  living in a rental community of 35 homes.

Our mail is delivered to the managers office where it is put into one locked mailbox.  . The manager then gets the mail and sorts it into our individual cubby that don't have a door so obviously it is not locked.

I also have 2 rental properties with the rent is sent to me at this address. Recently the manager has avoided me and locking the office door so I am unable to get my mail. Asking for my mail I have been told through the locked door that I do not have any mail. My tenants are regular with their rent always paying me by the 5th or 6th of each month with a money order. So I know when I will most likely have their mail. Then the manager started handing me my mail at the door. But it was now at the end of the month and both rental checks had not been received. 

I then communicated with both of my tena ts and each stated that they sent the rent and will send me a copy of the receipt. When I received the copies I called on the money orders and they had both been cashed  on the same day and time .so now I had to request a copy from the issuing  money order. I received the copies and on the front somebody added after my name " and/or " and then someone's name I dont know but had cashed them.  I have now asked for where they were cashed and waiting for the answer. But it stands to reason that both pieces of mail that came from 2 households on separate days had been delivered at the managers office how else would someone get a hold of my separately mailed letters. Also the manager is aware that I receive my rental checks each month.  So when I was researching this find out that in California that each tenant is supposed to have an assigned mail box that locks. I am wondering and have a couple of questions if anyone knows the answer I would appreciate it

1) does this make my landlord responsible for not providing the required secure mail box ?

2) Is the post office liable for delivering multiple residents mail to one mailbox which would be allowing the manager ( not a post office employee) to sort and distribute our mail.?

thank you for any input you can give me.

Pamela Smith

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Bill B.
Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
5y

Almost nobody in the Midwest has locked mailboxes, so unless it’s a state law I don’t think that part matters. As far as a middleman liek the manager in your mail you might/should ask the post office. I assume you each have a different mailing address (either different number or apartment number) if so ask the post office if that’s legal. Otherwise I’d sign up for a PO Box with them or a mail stop type place. You solve collection problems if you ever move and you prevent your tenants from having your home address. 

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  • Bill B.
    Investor · Las Vegas, NV · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    5y

    Almost nobody in the Midwest has locked mailboxes, so unless it’s a state law I don’t think that part matters. As far as a middleman liek the manager in your mail you might/should ask the post office. I assume you each have a different mailing address (either different number or apartment number) if so ask the post office if that’s legal. Otherwise I’d sign up for a PO Box with them or a mail stop type place. You solve collection problems if you ever move and you prevent your tenants from having your home address. 

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  • Michael Deering
    Rental Property Investor · Lehigh Valley, PA · Member since 2017 · 200 posts · 191 votes
    5y

    Sounds like a strange set up.  In the future I wouldn't advertise you receive rents in your mail.  

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  • Colleen F.Pro Member
    Investor · Narragansett, RI · Member since 2013 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    5y

    @Pamela Smith  Report these stolen,  the check cashing venue may have video so the sooner the better. I would get a P.0. box and at the same time pursue whatever else you want with regard to locked mailbox.  Might talk to you local post office.  Maybe mail some fake money orders  this month with some dye on them so you can see who has sticky fingers..   Is this  a mobile home park or rooming house, the rules may be different? 

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  • Nathan GesnerBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Cody, WY · Member since 2010 · 28k+ posts · 41k+ votes
    5y

    If you report the mail orders stolen, I believe they can be tracked to the person that stole them and they could be charged with theft and fraud. I assume this manager is an employee, so I would try to contact the owner and report the issue, as well.

    Consider getting a P.O. Box so you can receive mail securely and cut out the manager's office.

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  • Theresa HarrisPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    5y

    Report the problem and talk to whoever the manager reports to and say that mail has gone missing. You can also send yourself some mail if you want to test the system, just put another return address on it.  I'd set up a PO box and have your mail sent there instead.  While lots of people don't have locked mailboxes, they are also not dependent on a manager sorting the mail.

    Once you know where and when they were cashed, it shouldn't be hard to get the police involved and video footage pulled.

    Most apartments I know have the postal worker put the mail into each of the locked boxes.  No middle man.

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