When can you enter a property as a landlord?

On Behalf of | Oct 2, 2018 | Landlord/Tenant Matters

As a landlord, you maintain the right to enter your property at certain times with notice. In most cases, tenants are fair and allow you to enter without issue. However, if a tenant refuses to let you it, it could cause a problem.

Keep in mind that you can’t enter a tenant’s property without a good reason. You can usually only enter if you meet one of several conditions. Here’s more about what you should know.

When you can enter legally

As a landlord, you cannot enter at random times. However, you are able to enter:

  • When there is an emergency
  • If there is a need for repairs
  • If you need to assess the home for repairs
  • If you have prospective tenants who need to see the property
  • If the tenant asks you into the home
  • If you are there to investigate rent violations
  • If you need to show the property for mortgage or insurance purposes

In the majority of cases, you will need to give reasonable notice before you enter an apartment. This is usually around 24 hours. On top of this, you must generally enter the apartment within what would be considered normal business hours. That means it usually needs to be during the week and between the hours of 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tenants cannot deny you entry if you have reasonably requested entry. However, if you do not provide enough time for the tenant to prepare, then you may find that the tenant refuses your entry. In that case, the tenant would usually be in the right.

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