Landlord Rights & Rental Properties

Landlords have legal rights when it comes to managing their rental properties. Many of these rights are spelled out in the rental agreement that a landlord and tenant sign at the beginning of the tenancy. These rights vary by state and can also be changed or negotiated in a rental agreement.

Communication

Landlords have a right to communicate with their tenants and have a right to expect tenants to communicate back promptly. Communication is crucial to a successful landlord-tenant relationship.

Access

Landlords have a right to access the rental unit to make repairs and to show the property to prospective tenants. Laws about this vary by state, but in most cases a landlord is expected to give tenants 24 hours' notice that he is planning to enter the rental.

Emergency Protocol

In an emergency, a landlord may enter a rental unit without giving notice to the tenant. An emergency is any situation that left unattended would cause damage to the unit. A landlord also has the right to demand the keys to the unit if the tenant has changed the locks and also any alarm codes needed to access the premises.

Payments

A landlord has a right to expect payment of rent as agreed in the rental agreement and a right to begin eviction proceedings against tenants who do not pay their rent. A landlord also has the right to request a security deposit before a new tenant moves into a rental unit.

Evictions

Landlords generally have the right to evict a tenant who has not paid his rent or is violating some provision of the rental agreement. However, laws regarding evictions can vary by city and may also be addressed in municipal rent control ordinances.

References

• "Landlord's Law Book"; David Wayne Brown, Berkeley: Nolo, 1997. Print.