Right of entry (allowed reasons)

Your state's law lists the allowed reasons for entry. Common reasons are an emergency, repairs, an inspection, and showing the home to future renters or buyers. Entry must usually happen at reasonable times. Your state guide lists the reasons where you live.

Your landlord can ask to come into your home to inspect it. Your landlord can also come in to make repairs or other changes you agreed to or that are needed. Your landlord can come in to give a service you agreed to or that is needed.

Your landlord can ask to show your home to a future buyer, a future renter, or a lender. This includes a bank or lender that holds a loan on the home. Your landlord can also show your home to a worker or a repair person coming to do work. You must let your landlord in for these reasons unless you have a good reason to say no.

If you ask your landlord to make a repair or improvement, the law treats this as your consent for that visit. You do not need to agree again when your landlord comes to do the requested work.

Your landlord can also come into your home without your consent if a court has ordered it. Your landlord can also do this if there is reasonable cause to believe you have moved out for good.

Near the end of your lease, your landlord can show your home to a future renter or buyer without asking your permission each time. Your landlord can only do this at a reasonable time of day. This is only allowed if you signed a separate notice, apart from your lease, giving your landlord this right. This separate notice only works during the last 4 months of your lease. Your landlord must always be there together with the future renter or buyer during the visit.

If you are away from your home for more than 14 days in a row, your landlord can enter without your consent. Your landlord can only do this at times that are reasonably needed while you are away.

Some problems in your home are your job to fix. If one seriously affects health or safety, and can be fixed by repair, replacing a damaged item, or cleaning, your landlord may step in. Your landlord can only step in if you do not fix it yourself. Unless it is an emergency, your landlord must send you a written notice describing the problem and give you 7 days to fix it. If you still do not fix it, your landlord can enter, fix it properly, and bill you a reasonable cost. Your landlord can add this cost to your next rent payment, or ask for it right away if your lease has already ended.

You may not refuse without a good reason if your landlord asks to look at the home. The same goes for needed or agreed repairs, decorations, changes, or improvements.

You may not refuse without a good reason if your landlord asks to provide needed or agreed services. The same goes for taking out the landlord's own things that are not covered by a written rental agreement. The same goes for showing the home to buyers, mortgagees (lenders), tenants, workers, or contractors.

Your landlord may enter only as the access law allows or by court order. The landlord may also enter at times reasonably necessary when you are away more than 7 days. If you have abandoned (left for good) or surrendered (given up) the home, the limit does not apply.

In New Mexico, you must let your landlord in for certain reasons, following your lease and the notice rules in state law. Your landlord can enter to inspect your home or make necessary or agreed repairs, changes or improvements. Your landlord can enter to supply necessary or agreed services. Your landlord can also show your home to buyers, lenders, future renters, workers or contractors.

Arizona law lets your landlord come into your home for certain reasons. Your landlord can inspect the home. Your landlord can make repairs, changes, or improvements that are necessary or that you agreed to. Your landlord can also provide services that are necessary or that you agreed to. Your landlord can bring in a possible buyer, lender, new tenant, worker, or contractor to see the home. You can only say no to your landlord for these reasons if you have a good reason.

Other than in an emergency or for an allowed reason, your landlord cannot enter your home without a court order. Arizona law allows a few other narrow situations too, such as if you have moved out and given up the home.

Texas courts say a landlord may not come in unless you allow it, or your lease lists specific reasons for entry. The Texas Apartment Association lists many common reasons for entry. These include repairs, pest control, inspections, handling an emergency, or posting an eviction notice.

Your lease cannot say your landlord may enter before the lease ends. The lease can allow entry only to inspect, to make repairs, or to show the home to a possible renter, buyer, or lender.

Your landlord may enter if it looks like you have moved out and left the home empty.

Your landlord can enter your home only for a listed reason. The reasons are: an emergency, needed or agreed repairs or services, or a court order. Showing the home to buyers, lenders, new tenants, workers, or contractors is also allowed. So is a move-out inspection, or entry after you have moved out and left the home. Some cities add stricter rules; check your city's guide.

The entry list has 2 more reasons. One is to follow the rules for water submeters (devices your landlord owns that measure your unit's water use). Those rules are in Civil Code sections 1954.201 to 1954.219. The other is to do the balcony and deck check that the Health and Safety Code requires for buildings with 3 or more units.

The landlord needs a good reason to enter. Good reasons include repairs, services you agreed to, government inspections, and showing the unit to buyers or contractors. You should not say no to a proper request without a good reason.

Without your permission, the park's management can still enter your home if there is an emergency or if you have moved out for good. They can also enter for other reasons Colorado law allows.

You cannot refuse to let your landlord into your home for no good reason. Your landlord may need to inspect it, or make repairs or changes that are needed or that you agreed to. Your landlord may also need to provide services that are needed or that you agreed to. Your landlord may also want to show your home to a possible buyer, lender, new renter, worker, or contractor.

Your landlord can enter your home without your permission if a court orders it. Your landlord can also enter if you have moved out and given up the home for good.

Unless you and your landlord agreed otherwise, you must tell your landlord if you will be away from your home for a long time. Your landlord can then enter at reasonable times while you are away, to inspect the home. Your landlord can also make repairs or changes that are needed or agreed to, and provide services that are needed or agreed to. Your landlord can also show your home to a possible buyer, lender, new renter, worker, or contractor.

Your landlord may ask to enter for reasons such as to inspect the home or make necessary repairs. You may not unreasonably (without a fair reason) refuse.

If you are away for a long time, your landlord may come in when reasonably necessary. The reasons are to inspect (check) the unit, maintain (care for) it and keep it safe.

Your landlord can enter your home to inspect it, make repairs or improvements you agreed to, or provide services you agreed to. Your landlord can also show it to a possible buyer, lender, new renter, worker or contractor. You cannot refuse to let your landlord in for these reasons without a good reason.

You may be away from home for half of your rent period or longer. Then your landlord can enter to inspect, make repairs, or show the home. But suppose your rent is paid and you told your landlord you would be away. Then your landlord can enter only with your consent or to protect the home.

A Georgia landlord may end your lease and try to evict you for breaking rules. Refusing to let the landlord enter for maintenance according to the lease is one example. Others include criminal activity, damaging property, and disturbing other tenants.

Your Hawaii landlord may ask to enter to inspect the property or supply services as agreed. You may not refuse in an unreasonable way.

You may not unreasonably refuse (say no without a good reason) a Hawaii landlord who asks to enter for a listed reason. The landlord may ask to inspect the home. The landlord may ask to make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, changes, or improvements. The landlord may ask to supply agreed services. The landlord may ask to show the home to buyers, mortgage lenders, or renters.

Besides the allowed reasons for entry, a Hawaii landlord may enter only with a court order. Entry is also allowed if you appear to have abandoned (left for good) the home. Another section lets the landlord enter during your extended absence (time away) to inspect, maintain, and keep the home safe, as reasonably necessary.

If you are away for a long time, your Hawaii landlord may enter if needed to check, care for, and keep the home safe.

The Idaho Attorney General says a lease should state the landlord's right to enter for three reasons. One is to inspect for damage and make necessary repairs. Another is to respond to an emergency involving life or property. The third is to show the property to buyers or renters at convenient times.

Read your lease first. Most leases say when your landlord may enter -- for example to make repairs, inspect, or show the home to new renters. In Illinois the lease is the main rule for entry. If your lease says nothing, ask your landlord in writing to agree on a notice period and on daytime hours.

Your landlord can enter your home to inspect it, or to make repairs, changes, or improvements that are necessary or agreed to. Your landlord can also enter to provide services that are necessary or that you agreed to. Your landlord can also show your home to a buyer, lender, new renter, worker, or contractor. You cannot say no to your landlord's request without a good reason.

Your landlord cannot enter your home for any other reason. The law allows entry only with a court order, or in a few specific cases set out elsewhere in Iowa's landlord-tenant law. It also allows entry if you have moved out and given up the home.

Your landlord can also enter your home to fix a problem that seriously harms your health or safety, if fixing it is your job. It only applies to problems that can be fixed by a repair, a replacement, or cleaning. Your landlord must first send you written notice, and you get 7 days to fix it yourself, unless it is an emergency.

Kansas law lets your landlord come into your home, but only for certain reasons. Your landlord may enter to inspect the home. Your landlord may also enter to make repairs, or to make changes to your home that you agreed to. Your landlord can enter to provide a service you agreed to. Your landlord can also bring in a possible buyer, a lender, a new renter, a worker, or a contractor to look at the home.

If you are away from your home for more than 30 days, Kansas law lets your landlord enter at times that are reasonably needed.

For certain reasons, you must let your landlord come in peacefully unless you have a good reason to say no. The reasons are to check the home, make needed or agreed repairs or improvements, or give needed or agreed services. Another reason is to show the home to possible or actual buyers, lenders, tenants, workers, contractors, or others with a real interest.

Other than the entries Nevada law already allows, your landlord has no right to enter except in 3 cases. These are a court order, or when you abandoned or gave up the home. The third is after a written notice to fix a repair, replacement, or cleaning problem you are responsible for. If you do not use best efforts within 14 days, or sooner in an emergency, your landlord can enter to do the work.

The landlord can enter your home only for listed reasons. The list includes emergencies, needed or agreed repairs, showing the unit to buyers or renters, court orders, and required inspections.

If your home needs an urgent repair that cannot wait, Louisiana law lets your landlord come in to make it. This is true even if it makes things harder for you or you lose the use of part of your home for a while.

In Maine, you may not say no without good reason when your landlord asks to enter. Reasons include, for example, to inspect, to make necessary or agreed repairs, and to supply necessary or agreed services.

In Maine, you may not say no without good reason if your landlord asks to show your home. For example, the landlord may show it to prospective or actual buyers, other tenants, workers or contractors.

Your landlord has the right to come into your home in Maryland, but only for a real reason. The law lists making necessary repairs, checking on the unit, and showing it to a new renter as reasons that count.

Your lease cannot give your landlord the right to enter your home before your lease ends. It can only let them in to inspect, make repairs, or show it to a possible new renter, buyer, or lender.

Your landlord can also enter if it looks like you moved out and left the home empty. This is called abandonment (moving out and leaving the home empty).

Near the end of your rental, your landlord can enter to check for damage that could be taken out of your deposit. This is allowed in the last 30 days of your rental, or after either of you has given notice that your rental is ending.

Your landlord's actions are allowed in some cases under this law. First, a court order can allow your landlord to act. Second, your landlord can come into your home for a short time. This is only allowed to make needed repairs or to check on the home, if the law allows it.

Minnesota law lists reasons your landlord may enter your home for business. One reason is to show your home to a future renter. Your landlord can only do this during the notice period before your lease ends, or after you tell your landlord you are moving out. Your landlord may also show your home to a future buyer. Other reasons include repair or maintenance work. City, county, or state officials can also come in to check for health, housing, building, or fire problems.

Minnesota law lists more reasons your landlord may enter your home for business. Your landlord may enter if you are causing a disturbance inside your home. Your landlord may enter if they reasonably believe you are breaking the lease inside your home. Your landlord may also enter if they reasonably believe someone with no legal right to be there is living in your home.

You may not refuse your landlord's request to enter without good reason. Examples are to inspect the home or to make necessary or agreed repairs.

Your landlord has no other right to enter except in these cases. One is a court order. One is when you have abandoned or surrendered (given up) the home. One is during your absence of more than 7 days, at times reasonably necessary. The last is repairs your landlord does. That applies only after you fail to meet a tenant duty that affects health and safety. Repair, replacement, or cleaning must be able to fix it. Your landlord must first send written notice asking you to fix it. Then your landlord must wait 14 days, or act as promptly as an emergency requires.

Your landlord may enter to do repair, replacement, or cleaning work. This applies if you do not meet your tenant duties in a way that affects health and safety. Those duties include keeping your part of the home reasonably clean and safe and not damaging it. You must first fail to fix it within 14 days after your landlord's written notice. In an emergency, you must fail to fix it as promptly as conditions require. Your landlord may then send an itemized (item by item) bill. It may be for the actual and reasonable cost, the fair and reasonable cost, or the fair and reasonable value of the work.

You cannot unreasonably (without good reason) refuse your landlord's request to enter. Reasons for a request include needed or agreed repairs, or agreed services.

Your landlord must enter only at reasonable times. The time rule does not apply in an emergency or if it is impracticable (not practical).

Your landlord can enter by court order. Your landlord can enter if you have abandoned or surrendered (given up) the home. Your landlord can enter during any absence of yours of more than 7 days, at times reasonably necessary. Your landlord has no other right to enter.

Your landlord can enter your home to inspect the property. They can also enter to make repairs or changes you both agreed to, or to provide services you both agreed to. They can show your home to a possible buyer, lender, new renter, worker, contractor or another person with a real reason to see it. You cannot refuse this without a good reason.

Nevada law lists only a few other ways your landlord can enter your home. One is with a court order. Another is if you have given up your home to your landlord or moved out of it for good. Your landlord can also enter to do repair, replacement, or cleaning work you were responsible for and did not do. First your landlord must give you written notice describing the problem. If you do not make a real effort to fix it within 14 days, your landlord can enter and do the work. In an emergency, your landlord can enter sooner.

Under RSA 540-A:3, your landlord may not willfully (on purpose) enter your home without your consent first. Entry to make emergency repairs is allowed.

Under RSA 540-A:3, a landlord may enter a tenant's home without the tenant's consent only in 2 cases. One is to make emergency repairs. The other is when the landlord has a court order allowing the entry.

New Jersey law does not give your landlord a general right to enter your home. Your landlord can only come in with your permission or after getting a judgment (the court's final decision in your case) from the Superior Court.

Your landlord can ask to enter your home to do other services, or to show it to a new renter or buyer. New Jersey has no law or court decision that requires you to allow this kind of entry.

New Jersey's Bureau of Housing Inspection, a state agency, can also enter and check buildings with 3 or more apartments at any reasonable time.

Your landlord can enter your home to inspect it, or to make repairs, upgrades, or services that are necessary or that you agreed to. Your landlord can also show your home to a buyer, lender, worker, or future renter.

Your landlord does not have to give the normal notice to do repairs or a service you asked for within the last 7 days. Your landlord also does not need notice when a government inspector or a cable, electric, gas, or phone company worker comes too.

If you are away from your home for more than 7 days, your landlord may enter it at times that are reasonably needed.

With notice, the landlord can enter for only a few reasons. They can make needed or agreed repairs. They can enter when your lease allows it. They can show the apartment to future tenants or buyers.

A North Dakota landlord may enter only during reasonable hours, and in a reasonable manner. For example, a landlord may enter to inspect the home. A landlord may also enter to make necessary or agreed repairs.

A North Dakota landlord may enter during reasonable hours to show the home. For example, the visitors can be people who may buy it, insurers, real estate agents, or workers.

Ohio law lists reasons your landlord can ask to come into your home. Your landlord can enter to inspect it. Your landlord can enter to make repairs, decorations, alterations, or improvements you agreed to. Your landlord can enter to deliver a package too large to fit where your mail is delivered. Your landlord can enter to provide a service you agreed to. Your landlord can enter to show the home to a buyer, lender, new tenant, worker, or contractor. You cannot refuse to let your landlord in for any of these reasons without a good reason.

In Oklahoma, you must usually let your landlord come in to look at your home. You must also let them in for repairs or changes you both agreed to, or for services you both agreed to. You can let them show the home to a possible buyer, lender, new renter or worker too. You can only say no if you have a good reason.

Oklahoma law limits when your landlord can enter. If you still live in the home, your landlord can enter only for the reasons the law lists. A court order is the other way in.

In Oregon, your landlord can enter your home to check it or to fix things you agreed to or that are needed. Your landlord can also enter to give you services you agreed to or that are needed, or to do yard work you agreed to. Your landlord can also show your home to a buyer, a lender, a worker, or a new renter.

If you ask your landlord in writing for repairs, your landlord can enter without extra notice to do them until they are finished. That permission ends 7 days after you ask, unless repairs are underway and your landlord is making a reasonable, timely effort to finish.

The right has a limit: you cannot refuse every entry. You must give your landlord reasonable access to do maintenance and repairs, and to show the home to a future tenant. Refusing all access can count as breaking your lease.

Read your lease. It is a binding contract, and in Pennsylvania it is usually the only written entry rule you have. Look for when the landlord may enter, for what reasons, and how much notice they promise. If the lease promises notice before entry, the landlord must follow that promise.

Your landlord can still enter at reasonable times for repairs, general condition checks, or damage inspections. Your landlord can also enter to show the home to a future renter or buyer. As a courtesy, your landlord should contact you first to check the time works. In a true emergency, like a burst pipe that could damage the building, your landlord can enter without telling you first.

Under Pennsylvania law, you must give your landlord reasonable access to your home. Your landlord can use this access to do maintenance or repairs. Your landlord can also use it to show the home to a future renter.

You must not unreasonably (without good reason) refuse your landlord's request to come in. For example, you cannot refuse a visit to inspect the home or make necessary or agreed repairs. You cannot refuse a visit to show the home to buyers, new tenants, workers, or contractors.

You may be away for more than 7 days. Your landlord may then enter without your permission, if reasonably needed to protect the property.

Your landlord may enter to do repair or cleaning work in some cases. One is when you did not meet your duties as a renter. That failure must materially affect health and safety. Your duties include keeping your part of the home as clean and safe as its condition permits. They also include throwing out garbage safely. You must not damage the home on purpose or by carelessness. Repair, replacing a damaged item, or cleaning must be able to fix the problem. Your landlord must give you written notice naming the problem. You then have 20 days to fix it. In an emergency, you must fix it as promptly as conditions require.

Your Rhode Island landlord has no other right to enter your home except three. One is a court order. Another is if you have abandoned (left for good) or surrendered (given up) the home. The third is to fix a problem you caused. It applies if you broke a tenant duty in a way that materially affects health and safety. A repair, new item, or cleaning must be able to fix it. You must fix it within 20 days after written notice, or as promptly as an emergency requires. Then your landlord may enter and do the work in a skilled manner.

Outside of those situations, your landlord can only enter with your permission, a court order, or a ruling from an arbitrator (an outside neutral person).

Your landlord can ask to come in to check on your home. Your landlord can also ask to come in to make repairs or changes you agreed to, or to do work you asked for. Your landlord can show your home to a person who wants to buy it, a lender, a new tenant, or a worker. You must let your landlord in for these reasons unless you have a good reason to say no.

Your landlord can come in between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. without giving 24 hours notice. This is only for regular services like changing furnace filters or pest treatment. Your lease must clearly say this in writing. Your landlord must tell you before coming in.

Your landlord can come in between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. without giving 24 hours notice. This is only for a service you asked for. Your landlord must tell you before coming in.

A court order allows your landlord to enter your home. Your landlord may also come in together with a law enforcement officer to serve eviction papers. Your landlord may enter too if you have abandoned or given up the home. South Carolina's renter law allows a few other situations as well.

Most Texas leases, including the common Texas Apartment Association form, list many reasons the landlord may enter, such as repairs, pest control, and inspections. If the lease says nothing about landlord entry, the landlord has no right to come in. The only times the landlord may enter are an emergency, such as a fire, a flood, or a gas leak, or repairs you asked for. A landlord who does not use a listed reason as an excuse is breaking the lease.

Your landlord, agent, or manager may need to enter to make repairs. Utah law says you may not unreasonably (without a fair reason) say no to that.

A Vermont landlord may enter your rental home with your consent. You may not say no without a good reason.

A Vermont landlord may come in to inspect your home when necessary. The landlord must give you at least 48 hours' notice.

A Vermont landlord may come in to make necessary or agreed repairs, changes, or improvements, or to supply agreed services. The landlord must give you at least 48 hours' notice.

A Vermont landlord may come in to show your home to buyers, mortgage lenders, tenants, workers, or contractors. The landlord must give you at least 48 hours' notice before coming in.

In Virginia, your landlord can enter your home to inspect it. Your landlord can also enter to do repairs or make other changes that are necessary or agreed to. Your landlord can also enter to provide a service that is necessary or agreed to. Your landlord can also enter to show the home to a possible buyer or new renter. You should not refuse one of these requests without a good reason.

Beyond giving notice or acting in an emergency, your landlord can enter your home only for these reasons. A court order lets your landlord in, and so does you moving out or abandoning the home. Your landlord can also enter, after written notice, to fix a problem you caused that seriously affects health or safety. In an emergency, your landlord can make that repair right away and bill you for it. If you are away from home for more than 7 days, your landlord can also enter to protect their property.

Your landlord may enter your home only for certain reasons. These include inspecting the home, making repairs or upgrades you agreed to, and providing services you agreed to. Your landlord may also enter to show the home to a buyer, lender, worker, contractor, or a possible new renter.

In DC, a reasonable time for a landlord to enter is between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. It cannot be on a Sunday or a federal holiday. Another time is allowed if the tenant agrees to it.

In DC, keeping the property safe from damage is a reasonable purpose for a landlord to enter. So is making needed or agreed repairs.

In DC, a landlord may enter to show your home to buyers or workers, for example. Work the government orders is also a reason to enter.

In DC, suppose a tenant says there is a housing code violation. The tenant may not block the landlord without good reason. The tenant must allow entry within 48 hours of the landlord's written request. The entry is to check and fix the problem.

Your landlord can only enter your home to inspect it, make repairs, or show it to a future tenant or buyer. Your landlord can stay only as long as reasonably needed to do that job. Wisconsin law does not allow entry for any other reason, except as provided under par. (b) or (c) of this rule.

Your lease can give your landlord the right to enter your home in circumstances not otherwise allowed. This only counts if your landlord puts it in a separate paper, apart from your main lease. Your landlord must point out this paper and explain it to you before you sign your lease. If you sign or initial it, the law assumes your landlord explained it to you and that you agreed, unless you can show otherwise.