Our lease is up at the end of June. We just provided our landlord notice (early) - he wanted to show the house this weekend. We said we were not in a good place, had company over and would prefer next week. He wrote us back saying we will just show the outside. We were working garage and he entered the front door with people with out letting us know. Is that legal?
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Question: Our lease is up at the end of June. We just provided our landlord notice (early) - he wanted to show the house this weekend. We said we were not in a good place, had company over and would prefer next week. He wrote us back saying we will just show the outside. We were working garage and he entered the front door with people with out letting us know. Is that legal? Response: No, it is not legal. The Landlord can't just access the property when he/she feels like. If the Landlord requested access to the premises and you said no because the time was not convenient for you, the Landlord cannot take it upon himself to invade your privacy. The Landlord should have respected your decision. Eventhough the Landlord is the owner of the property, you have legal possession of the premises as the Tenant and the Landlord must obtain your consent, which consent cannot be unreasonably withheld before accessing the property. Your consent was not unreasonably withheld here since you had a valid reason for not granting access to the Landlord. Nonetheless, since you are already moving out in about a month, it is not worth taking the Landlord to Court for.
Experience: Licensed in Massachusetts and New York
So now that we have given notice (we live in wa) - what can we expect? We plan on being out by the end of June - what are our rights as it relates to him showing in June - if we are paid through June?
Response: Landlord's access to the premises is governed by Title 59 of Revised Code of Washington Section 59.18.150. You must give the Landlord access to the premises to show to prospective Tenants. However, Landlord must give you a reasonable notice before accessing the premises. Washington Residential Landlord_Tenant Act requires that the Landlord give a Tenant two-day written notice. For more information, see 59 RCW Section 59.18.150 subsections (1), (g)(6) through (8): http://apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite=59.18.150 (1) The tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent to the landlord to enter into the dwelling unit in order to inspect the premises, make necessary or agreed repairs, alterations, or improvements, supply necessary or agreed services, or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workers, or contractors. (6) The landlord shall not abuse the right of access or use it to harass the tenant, and shall provide notice before entry as provided in this subsection. Except in the case of emergency or if it is impracticable to do so, the landlord shall give the tenant at least two days' written notice of his or her intent to enter and shall enter only at reasonable times. The notice must state the exact time and date or dates of entry or specify a period of time during that date or dates in which the entry will occur, in which case the notice must specify the earliest and latest possible times of entry. The notice must also specify the telephone number to which the tenant may communicate any objection or request to reschedule the entry. The tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent to the landlord to enter the dwelling unit at a specified time where the landlord has given at least one day's notice of intent to enter to exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers or tenants. A landlord shall not unreasonably interfere with a tenant's enjoyment of the rented dwelling unit by excessively exhibiting the dwelling unit. (7) The landlord has no other right of access except by court order, arbitrator or by consent of the tenant. (8) A landlord or tenant who continues to violate the rights of the tenant or landlord with respect to the duties imposed on the other as set forth in this section after being served with one written notification alleging in good faith violations of this section listing the date and time of the violation shall be liable for up to one hundred dollars for each violation after receipt of the notice. The prevailing landlord or tenant may recover costs of the suit or arbitration under this section, and may also recover reasonable attorneys' fees.