As a landlord, you have a right to visit your rental property. But your tenants also have a right to quiet enjoyment while living there.
That’s why landlords should always have a reason for visiting and must give notice in writing before turning up at the door. If you don’t give notice, your tenants can refuse your entry.
If you’re not sure about your rights to visit a property as a landlord, we’ll provide an overview in this article on the circumstances you can visit, and how much notice you need to give.
How Much Notice Do Landlords Need to Give Tenants Before Visiting?
To visit your rental property, you need to provide your tenants with a minimum of 24 hours’ notice.
Written notice is generally required, as a tenant can refuse your entry if it’s not provided in writing. For this reason, it’s best to send a text or write a quick email to request the visit rather than asking over the phone.
You also have to arrange your visit for a ‘reasonable time of day’. This is subjective, but ultimately means you shouldn’t book a visit too late, early, or at unsociable or undesirable times for the tenant.
What Reasons Would a Landlord Need to Visit a Rental Property?
Generally, you shouldn’t visit your tenants unless there’s a specific purpose for the visit.
Since all tenants have a right to quiet enjoyment, regardless of whether it’s written in the lease or not, you or your letting agent shouldn’t be visiting the property very often or interfering too much with their lives.
As a landlord, you should only visit the property for things like:
- Carrying out repairs or maintenance on the property– including routine and emergency
- Undertaking a safety inspection – like a gas, electrical or energy performance assessment or inspection. There is no need for you to be present whilst these are done unless you or your tenants prefer it.
- Carrying out a mid-term inspection – to check your tenants are keeping the property in good condition and adhering to the terms of the tenancy
- Undertaking viewings – which, of course, would only be suitable if the tenancy is ending or you are selling the property
If you’re selling the property and want to host viewings, you need to be conscious of the impact this will have on the tenant. This is particularly important if they haven’t served you notice and you’re either selling the property with them as sitting tenants or you’ve served them notice.
Keeping a property clean and tidy for strangers to view can be a disruption, especially if minimal notice is given. It may be worth considering for viewings to be carried out in a block at pre-agreed days and times.
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