Landlord entry and privacy
Last updated: September 2, 2026 · How we source & update
Your landlord generally must give reasonable advance notice before entering, except in a genuine emergency. It's your home while you rent it. Log each entry and the notice you were given.
Educational — information, not legal advice, and not attorney-reviewed. Rules depend on your state, city, and lease; the app shows the rule we have sourced for where you live, with its official source and review status.
What this means
Renting a home gives you the right to live in it privately. In most states a landlord must give advance notice before entering for repairs, inspections, or showings, and pick a reasonable time. The exact notice is set by your state.
A true emergency — fire, flood, gas leak — is the main exception. Wanting to “check in,” drop by, or show the unit is not an emergency, and repeated unannounced entry can become harassment.
What to do
- Write down each entry: date, time, who came, and the notice you got.
- Send a calm written request for proper advance notice going forward.
- Check your lease for entry terms — it can't undercut your state minimum.
- If entries continue or feel threatening, contact a tenant hotline or legal aid.
Every letter and checklist above is free, with no login. If money or an eviction deadline is urgent, start with free rental assistance and legal aid in your state — help is always free.
Your rights vary by state
The specific deadlines and limits are set where you live. Start with your state:
Turn this into action.
Renter Shield shows the rule we have sourced for your state with its review status, drafts calm letters, tracks deadlines, and keeps your evidence private on your device — free to start.
See where you are in the process
Landlord entry: what to do, in order — a stage map with no deadlines, showing what each stage means and what to do at it. All five decision guides.