Huffington Post's 6 Tips for Apartment Security

The Huffington Post reports, “apartments have an 85 percent greater chance of being burglarized than a single family homeowner or rental property.” While apartment security is the responsibility of the owner and management company, tenants can take steps to deter crime and protect their families.

Before signing a lease, The Huntington Post urges tenants to consider the safety tips outlined below:

Home security systems: Today’s systems are wireless and portable. You don’t need to own a house or have a contractor install it. Ask if you have permission to install an in-apartment home security system with motion detectors. This should not be negotiable.
Peephole: Require a peephole on your door.
Door security: If the doors are glass-paned opposed to solid-core doors, then your potential landlord isn’t concerned about your security. Doors should have a knob lock and a deadbolt, and the doorjamb and hinges should be reinforced.
Surveillance cameras: Having one to 16 cameras with signage lets the bad guy know he’s being watched. Most camera systems can be remotely accessed with your mobile phone or tablet.
High-wattage sodium lighting: You cameras will work better with good lighting. Exterior lighting on the perimeter lets the bad guy know he can’t hide.
Parking lot security fencing: Perimeter fencing six feet high is a great deterrent.

Know Your Rights!

Apartment residents and guests have a right to be safe and secure while on the premises. By law, apartment owners and management companies have a duty to protect residents from any foreseeable harm. For example, should an apartment complex owner have knowledge of prior crime on or near property, they have a duty to implement security precautions to protect residents and deter future crime.

We’ve Recovered Millions for Victims of Apartment Security Negligence…Contact us Now for a Free Consultation.

The Murray Law Firm has an extensive and successful record representing victims of violence and apartment security negligence. We have recovered millions of dollars for our Clients, and we recently obtained a $29.25 million dollar verdict for a victim of an unsafe property. We offer our legal assistance, if desired.

We represent our Clients on a contingency agreement, which generally means that no fees or payments are owed until and unless we recover. Anyone seeking further information or legal representation is encouraged to contact us via e-mail (click here) or by telephone at 888.842.1616. Consultations are free and confidential.

Choosing the Right Attorney

Selecting the right attorney for you or your family is highly important. You must feel confident that the attorney you hire has a complete understanding of the law applicable to your particular case, and has successful experience in handling such cases.

Important: Do not hire a lawyer who has violated the Rules of Professional Conduct!!!

You should not hire an attorney who calls you or visits you unsolicited, or anyone that contacts you directly to offer legal services. This activity is strictly prohibited by Rule 7.3 of the American Bar Association (ABA) Model Rules of Professional Conduct, which states as follows:

A LAWYER “SHALL NOT” CONTACT A PROSPECTIVE CLIENT THROUGH A “LIVE TELEPHONE” OR AN “IN-PERSON” VISIT.

– RULE 7.3, ABA MODEL RULES OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT.

If an attorney, or someone acting on behalf of an attorney, contacts you in this manner, that attorney is in violation of this Rule. This unethical and unprofessional activity on the part of the lawyer is good sign that you should stay away. It is imperative that you are represented by an attorney who is capable of advocating for you within the confines of the law, and an attorney who fails to abide by the Rules of Professional Conduct is probably not the best fit. In fact, any such attorney should be immediately reported to the local State Bar Association. If you have been contacted in such an unsolicited manner, contact us and we’ll assist you in filing a report.

Contingency Fees Disclaimer: “Contingent attorneys’ fees refers only to those fees charged by attorneys for their legal services. Such fees are not permitted in all types of cases. Court costs and other additional expenses of legal action usually must be paid by the client.”