If you know your landlord is scheduled to visit your rental, you probably at least think about tidying up. You make sure you don’t need to take a shower during their anticipated arrival window. You hide any contraband.
But say your landlord has just arrived, completely unannounced. That can’t be legal, can it?
The not-at-all-simple answer: It depends. Rules for landlords accessing rental properties vary by state. While some states don’t specify a notice window, some have declared 12 hours, 24 hours, or 48 hours as reasonable notice. Some states only require a nebulous “reasonable notice” (I’m looking at you, Indiana. You too, New Hampshire). Nolo lists each law for rental unit access, and you might be surprised what the rule is for your state.
Of course, this notification of intended access is for non-emergency needs, like inspections, making repairs or showing the property to prospective tenants. If you’ve requested maintenance, the notice period in your state may not apply to that request.
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If there’s an emergency akin to a fire or a burst pipe, that notice period surely doesn’t apply, and honestly, you have bigger problems to deal with.
But if you want to make sure your landlord doesn’t just “drop by” because they were “in the neighborhood,” take a look at what your rental agreement specifies and compare it to your state law. For a state-by-state list, check out Nolo’s rundown of state laws regarding landlord access.
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