Don’t Want Your Name on Your Key Card? Say So!

When a tenant recently requested a building key card without his name on it, Resident Services claimed he didn’t have that choice. Not so. After he asked the Tenants Association for help, we quickly clarified the issue with management.

The TA won a court ruling on this issue 12 years ago, when Met Life decided to switch from metal to electronic building entrance keys. We commenced litigation before the Division of Housing and Community Renewal—and one of our primary concerns was the requirement that residents put their names as well as their photographs on the card. We saw no need for it, and viewed it as a threat to privacy and security. Today that threat is even greater.

The DHCR agreed—and ruled that tenants should have the option to not have their names printed on the card key. All you have to do is ask; it’s your legal right.