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Posted by Nancy on March 27, 2001 at 17:30:23:

In Reply to: Can landlord enter apartment whenever they want posted by a on March 27, 2001 at 07:06:13:

There are a couple of places that you should look to clarify your rights in this matter - your lease/rental agreement and the state law. Generally speaking, in Massachusetts there are limits on the circumstances under which a landlord can enter a tenant's unit and these have to be spelled out in the rental agreement and conform to the state law. In short, those reasons are: to inspect the premises, to make repairs, to show the premises to a prospective tenant, purchaser, mortgagee or agent, or in an emergency. But your presence is not required for him to enter your unit and I don't think you can reasonably insist on that. Check the web site for the Massachusetts General Laws chapter 186 §15B for the specific language on a landlord's righty of entry. Also, unless specified in your lease, your landlord does not have a right to a key to your unit. If your lease allows it, you can change the lock, recognizing that this will screw things up when he does need to enter for legitimate reasons.

After you check your lease and the law, write your landlord a letter (send certfied and regular) and very politely inform him that his instrusions into your unit are a problem and are illegal. Inform him that, except in an emergency, you want 24 hour notice of entry.

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• Re: Can landlord enter apartment whenever they want a 03/31/01 (0)

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Comments:
: There are a couple of places that you should look to clarify your rights in this matter - your lease/rental agreement and the state law.   Generally speaking, in Massachusetts there are limits on the circumstances under which a landlord can enter a tenant's unit and these have to be spelled out in the rental agreement and conform to the state law.  In short, those reasons are: to inspect the premises, to make repairs, to show the premises to a prospective tenant, purchaser, mortgagee or agent, or in an emergency.  But your presence is not required for him to enter your unit and I don't think you can reasonably insist on that. Check the web site for the Massachusetts General Laws chapter 186 §15B for the specific language on a landlord's righty of entry.  Also, unless specified in your lease, your landlord does not have a right to a key to your unit.  If your lease allows it, you can change the lock, recognizing that this will screw things up when he does need to enter for legitimate reasons.

: After you check your lease and the law, write your landlord a letter (send certfied and regular) and very politely inform him that his instrusions into your unit are a problem and are illegal.  Inform him that, except in an emergency, you want 24 hour notice of entry.


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