It can be tough to be a renter in New York. This is because landlords experience a lot of concern about destructive or illegal activities occurring on their property. This concern is understandable, but it does not give them carte blanche to invade the privacy of their tenants on an unreasonable and persistent basis.

Many landlord-tenant disputes occur because renters and property owners have differing opinions on their respective rights. If you are a renter who feels that your landlord is invading your home wrongfully, it is wise to familiarize yourself what just what is allowed and what is not on the part of your landlord. Fortunately, New York enforces strict rules on when and how a landlord may enter your home.

In the event of an emergency such as a busted water pipe or a fire, your landlord can come inside your home without your consent. If the property owner needs to make repairs, he or she must provide you with reasonable notice, which is typically one week. If the landlord needs to show your home to prospective renters, you are also entitled to reasonable notice, which is 24 hours.

Further, landlords may only make entry into your home at a reasonable time of the day. For example, the hours between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. may be reasonable for both you and your landlord. Asking or demanding to enter your home after midnight is an example of an unreasonable time.

To sum up, your landlord cannot show up on a whim and demand to enter your residence. Many New Yorkers choose to handle landlord-tenant disputes regarding right-of-entry between each other. If this solution does not work for you, you might benefit from talking with a lawyer about your situation.

Source: StreetEasy, “Can Your Landlord Enter Your Apartment at Any Time?,” accessed Feb. 16, 2018