So the concierge lost your drycleaning....
Over on UrbanBaby.com, an apartment dweller’s drycleaning has gone missing after the concierge signed for it. She has posted a “lost dry cleaning” alert near the mailboxes and in the garbage room on all 26 floors, “which ticked off the concierges because now everyone knows they are not as efficient/good as they say they are (especially around holiday tip time).”
So far, nada, though others seem optimistic that the clothes will turn up eventually: “It took a guy in my building over a month to notice had 3 blouses and a pair of pants,” reassures one. “Finally his wife saw them in the closet and was like, ‘what are you doing with women’s clothes.’”
But what if they don’t? Who’s responsible? We checked in with Thomas Usztoke at Prudential Douglas Elliman Property Management.
In a co-op or condo situation, the building will sometimes make good on lost items, he says.
“Submit a written request to for reimbursement to the agent, asking for the board to consider it at their next meeting—no hysterics or dramatic accusations,” he advises. “Sometimes the board agrees and reimburses the resident in a good, neighborly manner. The super and the staff get a good dressing down and the whole package maintenance inventory issue gets a once over three times.”
But neither a board nor a landlord is obligated to reimburse you.
“Many if not most leases provide language along the lines of, ‘The Lessor shall not be responsible for any property left with or entrusted to any employee of the Lessor, or for the loss or damage to any property within or without the apartment by theft or otherwise,” says Usztoke.
Long story short: “Go file it with your own insurance company," says Usztoke.
