Landlord’s Right to Enter: Do You Need A Notice? When Can You Enter?

There are more people renting homes now than there ever has been before. 

This is great news for your rental business, but it also means you have to understand when you can and can’t enter your properties. We’ve put together this guide to help you learn more about a landlord’s right to enter and what that means. 

Can a Landlord Enter Their Rental Property Whenever They Want?

The short answer is no. 

As a landlord, you have to give your tenants reasonable notice before you enter their home. Now, the exact time frame can change depending on where you live. 

For example, you might only have to give a 12-hour notice, or you might need to give a full 48-hour notice. But most places stick to 24-hour notice. 

On top of that, landlords can’t enter a rental property outside of normal business hours. Again, this exact timeframe can vary somewhat. But for the most part, you should only enter your tenant’s homes between the hours of 9 am and 5 pm Monday through Friday. 

What If Your Tenant Refuses?

Your tenants cannot legally prevent you from coming into the rental property as long as you provide reasonable notice. 

They can, however, request you change the entry date. You should do your best to respect these requests if you can wait. This will make your tenants more likely to keep renting from you in the future. 

What About Emergencies?

There are a few instances that let you enter a tenant’s residence without giving the proper notice. 

These instances include the following:

• To make improvements to the property 
• To deliver large packages 
• To make repairs 
• To do a move-out inspection 
• To provide necessary services 
• To show the property to other interested renters (if the current tenant plans to move)
• To issue an eviction notice
• During emergency situations 

As a landlord, you can also enter a rental property if the tenant has abandoned the premises. If a tenant is violating any health or safety codes, you’re also allowed to enter the residence to fix the problem. 

The only other time you can enter a tenant’s residence without proper notice is if you have court orders allowing you to do so. 

Can a Landlord Make Surprise Inspections?

You might want to ensure your tenants are keeping your rental properties in good condition, but that doesn’t mean you can show up and make “surprise” inspections. 

While you may need to perform routine inspections of important features, such as electrical work, you can’t inspect the overall condition of the home even if you give proper notice. 

Your tenant’s residence isn’t a dorm room. If they don’t keep the rental property in good condition, you can either evict them or charge them for the cost of the damages when they move out. 

Understanding a Landlord’s Right to Entry 

It’s important to understand a landlord’s right to entry before you start renting out your property. Otherwise, you can end up with a court case on your hands. 

Need some help managing your rental property?

Make sure you click here to take a look at some of our services!