is it common practice for your landlord to check your apt/room?

Question

ok, so i came home last night to finish my fall cleaning, only to have a note taped to my room from the landlord asking me to clean my room and throw out the garbage outside of the house. i had my garbage in bags, on the floor, ready to go. i also was going through the closet/old clothes, so basically my room was like a disaster zone. it was just embarrassing to have someone see my room in the midst of the cleaning process. i wasn't given notice by my roommate (i'm subletting) that the landlord was coming by, but is that normal for your landlord to come unannounced or just to check your rooms once in a while?

thanks. the sublet agreement mentioned nothing of the sort. i'll just talk to my roommate today.

totally took legend's advice and looked up my state tenant's rights. so i have the right to at least a day's notice. nothing less. no surprise inspections.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, it is common practice for Landlord's to enter rooms without proper notice, though the practice itself is improper. You have a reasonable expectation of privacy and quiet enjoyment of the property. Unannounced, unjustified entry disrupts those tenets. If you want to be a lady, write a letter stating your concerns and let the Landlord know that it shouldn't happen again. If you want to be a cocky little bas*ard, you purchase a clock-camera and catch the trespasser on a secured data card rifling through your belongings.

It sounds like the Landlord knows you are subletting based on his/her personal note. If you haven't already done so, make sure you pay the rent with a check or money order that has your name on it. Make sure you write something like "subletting rent" in the memo section. Acceptance of the rent would be waiver of his right to evict for an illegal sublet. Keep that note the LL wrote you about cleaning your room as evidence.

Changing the locks is a matter of state law and even custom. No one can really answer you outright and if they have without knowing where you're from, then they are playing the role of jedi real estate answerer. How can anyone answer that without knowing where you live? By using the force? In some states, you may change the lock and not give the LL the key. BUT If there is a bona fide reason to check the apartment, they can get a locksmith or knock the door down (in an emergency) at your expense. In some cities, you must give the LL the key, but no one in their right mind would. New York City, for instance.

*By the way, you can't sign away your right to unannounced visits, whenever, wherever. That's like signing your right away to live in a habitable dwelling. Leases often contain illegal provisions that are unenforceable due to being contrary to public policy. For the rest of the world, That's how the government IN THIS COUNTRY (America) protects its people. Because IN THIS COUNTRY a person comes into your fortress of solitude unannounced and they get their a** handed to them! Sign your right to privacy and quiet enjoyment away??? It's not a reality show people, it's a place where average people live.

Answer 2

Read your lease agreement. If it's in there that the landlord can make inspections, then they have every right to do so.... When you signed the lease agreement you agreed to everything in it, which includes unannounced inspections.

Another reason to read carefully everything you ever sign.... and to make sure you understand what you are getting into (I'm assuming you signed SOMETHING with the sublet agreement)

If the landlord doesn't know / permit your sublet'ing, then you are in the wrong yet another way.

Answer 3

Read your lease agreement. It should specify the notification. Most places a landlord is required by law to give 24 hour notice. In this case, it sounds like maybe he notified your roommate and your roommate didn't notify you, if you're legally subletting. If you were, you were legally violated.

You're usually not allowed to change locks without the landlord's permission.

Answer 4

A landlord can enter your apartment at anytime because even though you rent it is still their property by law. Although, there should be something in the contract stating that says they do random checks if that is what they are doing. They should also have the courtesy to let you know when they are coming and as long as nothing in the apartment is damaged as far as structure or carpeting for example then they have no right to say anything about your cleanliness.

Answer 5

Nope.
And you have the right to change your locks.
You must turn over the keys if you vacate.