Is a Landlord required to provide a mailbox in multifamily units?

Question

I have a 4-plex located in the Denver, Colorado area.  The outside, free-standing group mailbox (it serves 3 other bldgs.) has been vandalized.  The Post Office claims they own it & are the only ones that can fix it.  They have declared it not repairable.  They are requesting that the Landlords supply them with a new box & pay for the cost of installation.  1) Does this sound right?, 2) Is a Landlord legally required to supply a mailbox for their Tenants use?  (All of the apartments are "legal" & each has it's own address.)  Many thanks for your feedback!

Thomas S. · Answer

I do not know about your area but where I live providing a cluster box is the responsibility of the post office as it is their decision not to make door to door delivery. As a landlord or home owner if the post office does not deliver to my door it is their decision not the home owner and not the home owners responsibility to provide a cluster box. If the post office is suggesting they will make a door delivery put a mail box at each house door. You need to press the post office for more info as something is not right here.

James DeRoest · Answer

What sort of landlord are you to ask such a question?

Shari Matousek · Answer

I'm the kind of Landlord the appreciates a wide variety of viewpoints & knows that many heads are better than one.  That's why I love ALL of you BPers!  Here's a bit more of the story (if you're interested).

I'm an Owner/Occupant in my bldg. (8 yrs.) & have had many issues with my own mail delivery.  I'm looking for other efficient/cost effective/secure ways to address mail & this could be a great opportunity for me.  I currently have no other Tenants.(due to property upgrades) & want to try increasing cash flow (VS traditional long-term leasing) by trying other leasing options (corporate, shorter term, vacation. etc.).  Mail delivery may not be an issue with those options.  However, the other Landlords that share the current mailbox operate using traditional long-term leasing business plans, have 100% occupancy & different needs.  One size does not fit all.  I'd love to lose the hassle of dealing with keys, lock change outs & vandalism (often from Tenants prying open the back to get mail because they lost their key & won't pay for rekeying or contact their Landlord).

I think I may just let the other Landlords  "do their own thing" & try a new system depending on my own building's needs.  Any feedback on this idea?:  Give  my Tenants an annual cash "incentive" (equal to the cost of renting a mailbox located at the local Post Office).  That way, they can decide for themselves if they want to use it or just pick up their mail at the PO.  I want to be sure I don't violate any laws by not supplying a physical box located at my bldg.  Thus, my original question, "Is a Landlord required to provide a mailbox in multifamily units?".  Sorry if I didn't give enough info. Cheers!

Travis Sperr · Answer

My first thought was in line with most of the others - wondering - did he really just ask that.

But agreeing with @Greg S. and having some experience in your market with this. The cluster boxes are expensive, depending on the number of units it can be $2,000 or more. Not a huge deal over a handful of units, but who is going to collect from the other owners and what happens when it is destroyed again.

The Postal service makes the decision on cluster boxes vs individual unit delivery - has to do with the route and efficiency. I would call the local post master and have a conversation about what is going on and the remedy. If they will allow individual boxes, that is great news and it is an easy fix.

If the cluster is required and continues to be destroyed - consider offering your tenants a PO Box at the post office, very inexpensive and easy to sell that you want their mail to be safe. I would pay just so my phone didn't ever ring about this issue again.

Account Closed · Answer

Google.

Jamar Lombard · Answer

Basement apt below business. No private mailbox provided. I'm told I must get a po box. This does not seem fair or right, thoughts anyone? Is that legal?

Joshua Sclafani · Answer

Thomas S. nailed it. You are either talking to someone who doesn't know what they are doing at the PO or have somehow confused the situation. Either way, you should make this a priority and press to get to the bottom of it. In the interim, communicate the situation to your tenants and for pete's sake get them a mailbox if this is going to be drawn out. They sell them for $20 at home depot and you can hang them yourself.

Shari Matousek · Answer

Yes, the mailbox is for USPS items only. Non USPS items are delivered to the addressee's  front door (which has unsecured access),  Thanks for the question.

Mike Nelson · Answer

@Shari Matousek  I am assuming this mail box is for USPS items.  Where are non-USPS items delevered?

Is a Landlord required to provide a mailbox in multifamily units?

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