Depending on where you live, there are strict laws on the books that govern when your landlord can enter your unit once you’ve begun renting it. While the laws are different even within various states and provinces, the general rule is that written notice must be delivered at least 24 hours prior to entry, especially if the tenant is not going to be home at the time of entry. Let’s take a look at what one of these simple landlord notice to enter contracts looks like.

In most jurisdictions, a landlord notice to enter contract can fit onto a 3 by 5 card so you can imagine how simple they are to prepare and fill out. The notice must include the address and name of the tenant (or, in the case of a multi-unit building, the suite number), the date and time that the entry is being done and the exact reason for the entry. In most cases, a notice to enter is done to fix something in the unit that was requested by the tenant themselves, although there can be any number of legal reasons why an entry can be done, such as to test fire alarms.

There are times when a landlord may enter into your unit with no notice at all, but these circumstances are few and far between. If your landlord smells smoke on your floor or inside your unit, they can legally let themselves in to see if there is a fire. In a case such as this, many jurisdictions require that a card be left behind notifying the tenant that an entry was made into the suite, at what time and why. If no notice is left notifying the tenant that an unauthorized entry was made into their suite, legal action can likely be taken by the tenant so that it never happens again.

There are other situations where a landlord can enter into a rented space without permission, but with notice, such as when the landlord needs to show the unit to others to rent it out. There could also be a scenario where city inspectors need to inspect the unit on short notice. Even in a case like this, 24 hour notice is supposed to be given each and every time.

Landlords can also enter a rented space with notice but without permission for pest control reasons, although some jurisdictions forbid this practice.

A fine line is walked by many landlords who choose to enter into a unit that they believe might have become abandoned or if they have not been able to contact the tenant for an extended period of time. As long as rent has been paid, the landlord, under most circumstances, can’t just enter the rented space without believing an emergency is taking place.

While it may seem like a simple procedure on the surface, a landlord notice to enter agreement can be quite complicated. Make sure you have a working knowledge of the laws and regulations in your area before you rent out your first space.