Right of entry

The landlord's right to enter the rental, usually with 24 or 48 hours' notice, for repairs, inspections, or showings. Rules vary by state.

Rental & property management · Updated September 2026

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Part 1 of 4

Why a seller cares

The landlord's right of entry is what showings of an occupied rental run on: notice, usually 24 or 48 hours, and reasonable times. Getting the tenant's cooperation beats relying on the minimum.

Part 2 of 4

A simple example

State law asks for 24 hours' notice. You and the tenant agree to a written showing schedule instead, with notice by text the day before.

Right of entry: a simple example
How entry is arrangedWhat tends to follow
The legal minimum, every timeShowings happen; the tenant is unhappy and the house is not tidy
An agreed schedule and a small rent creditA tenant who keeps the place ready
Entry without noticeA violation, and sometimes a tenant who stops cooperating altogether

Right of entry is the floor. A cooperative tenant is what sells the house.

Part 3 of 4

What people get wrong

That listing the home changes the entry rules. It does not; the lease and the state's notice rule stay in force until closing.

Part 4 of 4 · where to read next

Where it appears in the sale

What a definition is, and what it isn't

Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.

Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish

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