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We recently relocated to Dallas, Texas and signed a rental lease on a small home. We have over a year on the lease outstanding. The owner has deferred responsibility to a management company - this is their only rental property and they are out of state.
Since we moved in the Lockbox (instrumental for showings prior to us signing the lease) has remained on the front door.
The lease lists an email address and physical address as a contact point for the agent. I emailed the agent on Jan 12th asking that the lockbox be removed and certain other items we'd listed in the condition report to be addressed. The email was acknowledged on the 13th promising that the lockbox would be removed, however it is still securely attached to the front door, and other actions we asked about based on initial property condition have been ignored.
I read our lease and it seems to have stipulations on the removal of a lockbox only on the last 30 days of the lease, so I believe it should be gone.
I'd appreciate advice on moving forwards? Is a registered mail notice necessary for something that should have been taken care of the day we moved in?
To be clear we like the place, we're happy renting, but this (and certain other things that I may raise in an additional post) suggest that the management company is dragging it's feet and it's frustrating, especially since Texas leases seem to leave the tenant near powerless.
Can you just take a saw to the darn thing? I think that's what I'd do. Then if they ever ask you where it is, say, "huh? I thought you guys removed it?!"
Can you just take a saw to the darn thing? I think that's what I'd do. Then if they ever ask you where it is, say, "huh? I thought you guys removed it?!"
I'm cracking up at this answer. VirtualGreg, you should totally do this and let us know how it goes.
This is a perfect time to send certified letter to the property manager. In your letter give them x amount of days (at this point I'd say hours) to get it removed or you will have it removed yourself and they will be footing the bill.
There is no need for a lockbox to be on your rented home after you've rented it. Yes, it could be oversight, but you've made them aware so it should be gone.
This is a perfect time to send certified letter to the property manager. In your letter give them x amount of days (at this point I'd say hours) to get it removed or you will have it removed yourself and they will be footing the bill.
There is no need for a lockbox to be on your rented home after you've rented it. Yes, it could be oversight, but you've made them aware so it should be gone.
I agree with this certified mail seems to get people's attention. I too assume it's just an issue with laziness in getting around to taking care of it and a certified letter will probably get them to act.
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VirtualGreg, you should totally do this and let us know how it goes. 
