Legal Question in Real Estate Law in New Jersey
Landlord access to rental unit
Live in Northern, NJ. Lease is at an end in less than 30 days. Landlord hostile and untrustworthy. Landlord insists on entering the rental townhome when we are not home to show to prospective new tenants, and claims that they will not be responsible for lost or stolen property. Landlord and I have agreed on Sundays between 2 and 4 to show townhome (this is when we will be home). Can they legally enter our home when we are not present? Is this considered reasonable notice under the law? Can we change the locks so that they cannot enter without us being home?
1 Answer from Attorneys
Re: Landlord access to rental unit
Most leases permit the landlord to show a rental property for purposes of finding a new tenant near the end of the lease term or for selling the property. Most leases also prohibit tenants from changing locks so that landlords cannot gain access, which may be required in emergency circumstances to prevent or repair damage from things like leaks, etc.
Read through your lease to see what rights the landlord has.
Restricting the landlord to only 2 hours per week to show the property sounds rather unreasonable. It seriously interferes with the landlord's ability to rerent the property.
Perhaps you could work out additional hours during the week that will not unduly interfere with your work schedule. You may request that the landlord advise you of dates and times sufficiently in advance to enable you to make arrangements to be present or to have a trusted friend present.
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