Guide · Renting and leases
Entry and Privacy
A friendly, practical guide to when and how a home may be entered, how notice works, and how everyone’s privacy can be respected.
Where to start
- A leak, gas smell or no heat?
Report emergencies right away so help can come quickly.
- Worried about how someone entered?
- Want visits to go smoothly?
Work through the habits that build trust, and see what a good notice includes.
The short version
A home is a private space, and a rental is also someone’s investment. Clear notice and respectful visits protect both.
Common reasons for entry include repairs, inspections, showings and true emergencies. Entry should never be used to harass or pressure anyone.
Outside of emergencies, entry usually needs advance notice at a reasonable time. A good notice includes the date, time window, reason and who is coming.
In a true emergency, like a fire, flood or gas leak, entry may happen right away, followed by a quick explanation.
Rules about notice differ from place to place, so we’d gently encourage a quick look at your local rules. If you ever have questions, we would love to help.
Four simple rules
- 1A home deserves privacy
The people living in a home have a right to quiet enjoyment and privacy. Entry should be for a real, reasonable purpose.
- 2Notice comes first
Outside of emergencies, entry usually needs advance notice at a reasonable time. The rules where the home is set the details.
- 3Emergencies are different
A fire, flood, gas leak or other urgent danger may allow entry right away to protect people and the home.
- 4Put it in writing
A written notice with the date, time window, reason and who is coming keeps everyone on the same page.
Habits that build trust
From the guide’s own checklist. Tick each one as you go. Your ticks stay on this device. These are examples; your home may need others.
All done. Visits should feel easier and more respectful for everyone.
What a good notice includes
- The date.
- A reasonable time window.
- The reason for the visit.
- Who is coming.
- How to reach them.
A notice with all five rarely leads to questions. The rules where the home is set how much notice is needed and how it must be given.
If entry feels like a problem
- Take a breath. Most entry concerns are honest misunderstandings about timing or notice.
- Write down what happened: the date, the time, who entered and any notice that was given.
- Reread the entry section of the lease together, calmly.
- Reach out kindly in writing, describe what happened, and share what would help going forward.
- Agree together on how notice will be given from now on, such as by text, email or a door note.
- If you still can’t agree, a local landlord or tenant association, a mediation service or an attorney can help.
When a visit time doesn’t work, reply with two or three times that do. It keeps repairs moving and keeps things kind.
Guides that go well with this one
Like it on paper?
The printable checklist for this guide is fillable, with a screen version and an ink saver print version. Keep it on your phone or pin it to the fridge.
How much do you remember?
4 quick questions from this guide, with a one line why for each. Totally optional, no sign in, and your answers are never saved.
Go deeper with The Perfect Move-In Checklist Workbook
Simple, step by step checklists you can write in for moving in: the move in walk, moving day, your first week, utilities, keys and more.
Keep the full guide handy
The PDF has everything: everyday habits, what to do when something goes wrong, common myths, helpful resources and plenty of real-world tips. Print it, save it or share it with anyone who could use it.
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This guide shares general information to help you, and is not legal advice. Bunklow does not inspect properties.