residential-lease florida
Can my landlord legally say no to installing a security chain on my apartment door?
<p>I live in a rental apartment in Florida. This apartment is located in a 7-story building with an attached 7-story garage. Main entry points on each floor have closed-circuit cameras monitored by security guards. The doors on the street-level are locked and can only be opened when swiping a badge at an adjacent sensor.</p>

<p>On another hand it is (technically) possible to enter the building from the garage without swiping a badge, although in this case an alarm will sound and the security team is alerted.</p>

<p>And like other apartment complexes, this one also provides a maintenance service that can come and repair any broken appliances such as the AC or the dishwasher.</p>

<p>The maintenance service people are able to enter the apartment on their own key although they typically knock first. However they usually do not inform us ahead of time of when they might be here (probably because they are on premise and it's a single building so it is easier for them to just 'pop by'). </p>

<p>Now after reading news articles such as <a href="http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/apartment-security-guard-arrested-florida-woman-murder-article-1.2418445" rel="noreferrer">this one</a> (about an apartment security guard that was arrested for Florida woman’s murder) I have a problem with the personnel having an unrestricted access to my apartment.</p>

<p>I would like to be able to install a security chain on the inside of my apartment door, but I noticed that the contract says the following:</p>

<blockquote>
  <ol start="7">
  <li>Right to Enter and Terminate. Resident(s) consent to Owner entering the Premises at any time and for any purpose without notice.</li>
  </ol>
</blockquote>

<p>Can my landlord legally say no to installing a security chain on my apartment door?</p>

<p>The landlord may, in fact, regulate how his or her property is modified, such as the installation of additional locks fastened to the structure. However, they cannot prohibit tenants from adding temporary locking devices, such as levers or wedges applied to the hold the door shut against intruders. There are hundreds of such devices on the market, which are similar to items sometimes carried as "travelers' locks", for use in dodgy hotel rooms. </p>

<p>As for the landlord's alleged "right to enter at any time and for any purpose", they can clearly show that you consented to it in the agreement and, should it come to this, you would have to prove that including such consent was "unconscionable", or unenforceable, or a "prohibited provision", under Florida law.  </p>

<p>Clearly there are implied limits to "any purpose", where you cannot be presumed to have granted permission for them to commit a criminal act against you or your property, or in violation of your "right to privacy", among other things.</p>

<p>The statute on "landlord right of entry" is permissive, not prohibitive. It says "landlord may enter" under the various listed conditions, but does not say "may ONLY enter" under such conditions. If you look in your rental agreement and find "quiet enjoyment" as an obligation of the landlord, you may certainly attempt to enforce that against their uninvited entry to your home.  </p>

<p>For comparison, some other states have laws that specifically prohibit the landlord from entering for any reason, without consent of a tenant, except as specifically provided in the statute (e.g., in an emergency).  Some states also authorize entry after giving reasonable notice, whether or not the tenant consents.  Florida law also authorizes such entry under limited circumstances, to the extent it's relevant to your question.</p>
