Alright, so obviously, law is not my profession. I’m almost exclusively medical. So I was wondering if any of you guys have any legal expertise to answer this question:

Can my apartment use a retired volunteer as their maintence man?

Context: I’ve been at my apartment for nearly 2 months. And there was some stuff that needed to be changed... so the maintence man thought. 3 weeks ago I was supposed to get a new dishwasher for my place. My apartment manager (or whatever you call them) said staff was going to be bringing me my dishwasher the next day. I clean up and the guy comes the next day.

But things were... off. The guy didn’t have the dishwasher and was instead changing my lights and checking my oven... I was confused until I glanced at his paper. The maintence was for the apartment next door. Not mine. And no, it wasn’t a simple mistake since our numbers are completely different and are big and bold right next to the door. I didn’t say anything but the guy mentioned he was retired and working with the apartment by request as volunteer work. He used to work there but now he’s doing this for free. That sounded, wrong, but I didn’t want to get on the apartment managers bad side so I let it slide. He didn’t seem all there, mentally, either. Slurring his words, some sentences sounding like complete nonsense. 

Today, he finally brings the dishwasher. I was busy this morning so I couldn’t clean up too well and locked my dogs up. I also didn’t have time to change my dogs pupper pads. So there is dog poop on and slightly around it (my beagle has been on her period and missing the pad when she’s pooped lately). I get a call at work from my manager who is pissed. She said he told her that there was poop ALL AROUND THE HOUSE. I get confused. Because that was completely false. But I also recall I have a spare room the dogs go in sometimes that may also have poop in it that I didn’t notice. But that room is closed off. So unless he went into a room with a closed door -which he had no business in, there’s no reason at all to this ridiculous claim. 

So is him working for them legal? And if so, if hypothetically he went into a room and found a piece of poop I missed, did he have any right to go into a closed room? 

It sounds like the manager is just trying to increase profits by using free labour.

Yes. Once every 6 months for 3 weeks. It’s terrible.

Well I question it due to the risk of having a non-employee doing work for them since they’re neglecting their job to use real maintence vs a volunteer that puts them in potential legal liability 

Crate training, walk your dog, and either fix your beagle or get her a menstruation diaper. I've always been highly opposed to all the extra work having a dog in an apartment entails, and the poop pads, in all honesty, are one of the most disgusting things on the planet. Poop pads are useful only for lining your dog's kennel during early training days, or making your apartment look like a dive.

As far as the maintenance man is concerned, I'm sure you're aware that, as a volunteer, he wants to be there. If nothing else, he's probably doing it for a massive discount on his own apartment. So no, that's not illegal. As far as checking a room with a closed door is concerned, maintenance workers have access to any part of your apartment if they have reason to check. They aren't allowed to go through drawers and such, but they are allowed to go into any room to check for damage and to check air filters.

I walk my dogs when Im there. When Im not they’re potty trained to use the pads -but like I said she’s been on her period/been sick so she’s been missing and have had diarrhea on the pads. Though this morning there wasn’t any. I also have a menstration diaper for her. But that was dirty and I didn’t have time to clean it. Crate training wouldn’t work well with my beagle. She howls like crazy if she’s in a cage. My last apartment made me put a muzzle on her if she was in a cage cause she had 6 of my neighbors complain. Though I have toyed with the idea of bark softening/removal. The ethics of it have put me off, though.

Doesn’t it create liability on the apartments end though? The rest I guess you’re right.

Give your dog to your parents or a friend before you get half of her throat removed. A better option would be a bark collar (it pings a high pitched sound when she barks, causing discomfort to her ears and discouraging barking; significantly more humane than removing her voice box).

No more than a normal employee does. 

I’ve thought about trading my beagle for my moms mini poodle (who is potty trained and doesn’t bark) for a for months until she can be properly trained. Though I have considered getting a bark collar. But my gf is under the impression it physically hurts the dog so she’s pretty against it >~>

It'd probably be easier if you lived with your girlfriend because that way there'd be more of a likelihood that someone is home to walk the dogs.

Well she lives with her parents who hate dogs. They wouldn’t let the dogs or me (cause of my dogs) live there, unfortunately XD

Dogs are pretty high maintenance, I don't think I'd be able to handle having one on my own.