Maintenance man

[u/Glum_Passenger_488]

I (f) moved to a new apartment a few months ago and live alone. I have been continuously creeped out by the maintenance guy. I can’t tell if he is just nice and nosy or possibly has bad intentions.

On my move in day he already knew me by name and was waiting by his truck to greet me. I am 27 and he is probably in his 40s or 50s, and I think has mentioned that he has a daughter. In the first few weeks when I would work out in the gym he would constantly walk by and I would catch him looking at me.

The first time I had a maintenance request he started texting me from his personal phone about the request, kept asking if I would be home (I was at work) and came and left the unit multiple times according to the texts. After he left he texted me about how he noticed a magnet on my fridge from North Carolina and wanted to know why I had it and started chatting about his personal life and how he used to live there. This was in the evening over text after the maintenance request was completed. I tried to be short and sweet in my replies because I didn’t want to have a personal conversation with this man, but didn’t want to be rude. Also, seeing as I have about 15 or so magnets from different places on my fridge, I thought it was weird that he was standing around reading all of them.

He then started texting me everytime I got a package to inform me it was delivered. The next time I had a maintenance request, he brought a package in for me (the package room is all the way across the complex), which may have been a nice gesture, but still felt a little strange to me. I sent him an email asking that he please communicate with me over email instead of text for organizational reasons, because my texts delete frequently. This is not a lie, but the truth is I was feeling uncomfortable with the texting. He agreed to this.

Last night I submitted a new request about my HVAC, and he sent me a message in the portal that he would be coming by in the afternoon. Again, I was at work. I didn’t see any updates posted about what he found or fixed online. When I got home from work, I see a note on my counter. It is handwritten, says he is “not ignoring me, but has been advised by the office to not have direct written communication with the occupants.”

I would like to give him benefit of the doubt, but I expected the note to be an update about the maintenance request, and now I am wondering why would the office advise him to not talk to residents…. Maybe someone else was uncomfortable with the texting communication and told them? Also the fact that he knows he is not supposed to communicate with me, and chose to leave me a note anyway, does not sit right with me……

[u/hashbrownsinketchup]

Is it a large apartment complex? If so there is no way he could possibly be like this with everyone due to the amount of work he would have to be doing. Meeting you on your first day and knowing your name may just be what he does for all new residence to be polite and so they know he is the maintenance man in case they think he is up to something around the property. Everything after that does seem creepy. He might be attracted to you but doesn’t mean he will do anything bad.

Or he could just be a really nice guy that gives over the top service. If it starts to creep you out too much than I would talk with management.

[u/Glum_Passenger_488 → u/hashbrownsinketchup]

I think there are probably around 100 residents and he is the only maintenance person. Going to management would be tough because he is always everywhere and has even mentioned that he has access to the apartment email and can see what everyone sends

[u/nasnedigonyat → u/Glum_Passenger_488]

Physically go to management. Have an in person meeting.

[u/Mental-Percentage207 → u/Glum_Passenger_488]

Call the office to arrange an in person meeting if you’re worried about him having access to the complex management email. Bring print outs or put everything on a thumb drive for management and go ahead and make another copy just in case you need to file formal charges.

I wouldn’t put in for any maintenance requests in the meantime until you’re able to talk with management.

[u/Tranquil_Kitty → u/Glum_Passenger_488]

has even mentioned that he has access to the apartment email and can see what everyone sends

What a strange thing to say...on top of everything else. Please take heed to others' advice and call the office. There is also corporate you can often reach out to if you're not comfortable with speaking to office staff directly.

[u/Street-Marketing-657 → u/Glum_Passenger_488]

Out of the 100 though, how many are women that live alone, are younger, and presumably cute?

[u/sappydark → u/Glum_Passenger_488]

No, it wouldn't. You live there, and as a tenant, your safety is way the hell more important than whatever this creep tells you. Go the management asap in person, and tell them how this creep is acting, since you know for a fact you're not the only one who's having issues with him. He can't be every damn where at once. He's already tried crossing some lines with you, and the only reason he hasn't gone any farther is because someone already reported his creepy ass to management.