LONGWOOD, Fla. — Miya Marcano’s Sept. 24 disappearance from her Longwood apartment complex is raising questions and concerns about how property management companies handle maintenance work and access to renters’ homes.

Attorney Jennifer Englert, with The Orlando Law Group, specializes in real-estate law and says there are numerous things companies can do to keep residents safe.

All property managers should properly notify residents of any maintenance ahead of time and do thorough biannual background checks on any employees, she said. 

Englert also said tenants should choose apartments that will allow them to add their own extra layer of security — like a security doorbell with an alarm and camera.

“So, if you have a choice between getting a place that doesn’t have those policies or doesn’t set those forth or have cameras or any of that — or you can get a place with a camera, then you should always do that,” she said. “It’s not unreasonable to ask for that and I know from experience plenty of places in Orlando that have those safeguards built in.”

Englert said if a renter believes their property managers are not upholding sufficient standards of safety, they have the option of trying to get out of a lease, which is something she has represented clients for in the past.