As a tenant, you have certain rights provided by federal, state, and local laws, including the right to privacy. Although the law protects your privacy, there are certain conditions in which your landlord can legally enter your apartment.
Your landlord, however, needs to give you a 24-hour notice, at least, before entering your unit. You may refer to your lease agreement to see if anything is stated regarding routine inspections or circumstances that allow your landlord to enter your apartment.
Here are some circumstances when a landlord may enter a renter's apartment.
When there is a move-out inspection. Most states will require the landlord to inspect the tenant's apartment before the day of moving out. This is so he could inspect the property for any traces of damage that needs to be repaired. In some states, this is called the walk-through inspection.
Though landlords can technically get in the property at the time of the move-out inspection, they are still legally obliged to send a notice to the tenant about the inspection a few days prior.
Make some repairs. Most tenant and landlord lease agreements will cover the concept of possible repairs within the particular tenant's length of stay. This means that the landlord is responsible for keeping the apartment under livable conditions. The landlord may access the property when addressing minor repairs, necessary repairs, and even possible repairs requested by the tenant.
To make alterations and changes. If a landlord wishes to make improvements to the unit rented by the tenant, he may enter the property. These improvements can be adding appliances or making aesthetic changes. For example, if your landlord wants to add an air conditioning unit to the apartment, then that can be a legal reason.
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To let the prospective tenants in. Under the law, it is legal for a landlord to enter a tenant's apartment unit if he will be introducing prospective tenants to the property. It is also allowed if potential buyers, appraisers, mortgagees, contractors, actual buyers, and maintenance specialists were shown into the apartment.
If service was requested. If the tenant asked for the presence of the landlord in the property, the landlord could legally enter the apartment. This can be because the tenant requested a particular service from the landlord.
To deliver parcels. Apartments usually come with mailboxes. And if the tenant is supposed to receive a delivery that is way too big for his mailbox, the landlord can deliver the actual package to the tenant.
If safety codes are violated. If the tenant has violated any of the safety codes, the landlord can legally enter the premises. This is so he could check and determine any problems that the tenant has caused after contravening said violations.
If the property is abandoned. The landlord is legally allowed to enter the tenant's apartment if it is already abandoned. However, different states may have different interpretations of how to classify properties as abandoned.
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