Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Missouri

I have a current lease that expires on June 1st of this year. I am the tenant. The landlord has begun to show the house. I have informed the landlord of my intent to move and will be leaving before June 1st. Recently, they disagreed with my refusal of a certain date and time for a house showing. My lease agreement states they can show the property at "Reasonable times", but that is what is reasonable for the Landlord and the Tenant, I believe. After the disagreement they have been threatening me and my family. I may seek legal counsel for harassment based on that. I have left the home on two occasions to allow them to show it, but since the threats I am not inclined to help them sell the house in any way. Am I under a legal obligation to leave the house when they show it?


Asked on 5/02/14, 8:28 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Anthony Smith LawSmith

I think you understand that you're obligated to allow them to show the house at reasonable times. I know of no statute that dictates what "reasonable times" is. If one side sues, the Court will hear evidence to decide what is reasonable under the circumstances. Whoever sues the other for damages, will have to show that the other's unreasonable action caused them a loss. If it is them, they will need to show that they lost a sale or incurred some expense because you refused to allow them to show the house at a time that the Court deems reasonable.

I can give you no exact times or frequency that you must allow them to show the house. But, probably not at night. And, because you say the lease calls for "times" it probably means that the lease anticipates the house being shown more than once.

Good luck

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Answered on 5/02/14, 10:20 am


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