A landlord can only enter a tenant’s unit for specific reasons, unless:
- the tenant gives the landlord permission to enter
- there is an emergency requiring the landlord to enter the unit or
- the tenant abandons the property
The Residential Tenancies Act gives five reasons a landlord can enter a tenant’s property:
- To inspect the state of repair of the unit
- To make repairs to the unit
- Pest control
- Showing the property to potential buyers and
- Showing the property to potential renters during the last month of a fixed term tenancy or after giving notice to end a periodic tenancy.
The landlord must give the tenant at least 24 hours written notice before entering. There are also rules the landlord must follow, for example:
- They must sign the written notice, state the reason for entry, and give a date and time for the entry.
- They can only enter between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- They cannot enter on a holiday or on the tenant’s day of religious worship (which is Sunday unless the tenant informs the landlord, in writing, of a different day).
As long as the landlord follows these rules, they do not need the tenant’s consent and the landlord can enter without the tenant being present.
Reason for entry and notice timing
November 2023
