Can a Landlord Tell You Who Can Be at Your House?
Once in a while, you may have someone at your house whom your landlord does not approve of. Maybe it’s a romantic partner who doesn’t live with you or a friend who is crashing on your couch for a few nights. Can your landlord dictate who can and cannot be in your home?
Even though your landlord owns the property you’re renting, you have what’s called the “right to quiet enjoyment” of your rental unit. This means that your landlord cannot interfere with your daily life in the rental unit as long as you follow the terms of your lease agreement.
Although your landlord doesn’t have the right to tell you who can visit or stay with you, some rules apply.
Read on to learn more about your rights as a tenant regarding having visitors in your rental unit.
The Reasons Why Landlords Might Restrict Guests from Visiting
There could be a few reasons your landlord might want to restrict some visitors from coming to your house.
Too Many Guests/Visitors
Having too many guests or visitors over could disrupt the other tenants in your building. It might also cause extra wear and tear on the property.
For example, if you have a lot of people coming in and out of your rental space, the apartment will most likely result in noise, and it could become a nuisance to your neighbors.
Or, if you have people staying with you for extended periods, it might put a strain on the building’s water or electricity usage. This could end up costing your landlord more money in utility bills.
In some cases, your lease agreement might state how many visitors you’re allowed to have at any time. So, if you’re exceeding the limit, your landlord might have a legitimate reason to tell you to cut back on the number of guests.
Policy Violation
Another reason your landlord might want to restrict some visitors is if they are violating the building’s policies.
For example, if your rental unit doesn’t allow pets and you have a friend staying with you who has a dog, your landlord might want to restrict that person from coming over.
Or, if your building has a policy against smoking, your landlord might not want visitors who are smokers to come inside the rental unit.
In these cases, your landlord is just trying to enforce the rules that are in place for all tenants to follow.
Illegal Activities
Another reason your landlord might want to restrict some visitors is if they engage in illegal activities.
For example, if you have a friend dealing drugs out of your apartment, your landlord would definitely want to restrict that person from coming over.
Or, if you have a visitor constantly causing trouble and getting into fights, your landlord might want to keep that person away from the property.
In these cases, your landlord is just trying to protect their property and the other tenants from potential danger.
What Must My Landlord Do to Keep My Guest Out?
If your landlord wants to restrict a visitor from coming to your rental unit, they must first give you written notice.
This notice should state why your landlord wants to keep the person out and allow you to fix the problem.
For example, if your landlord thinks you have too many visitors, they might give you a notice stating you need to limit your number of visitors.
Or, if your landlord thinks one of your visitors is violating the building’s policies, they might give you a notice stating you need to ensure your visitors are following the rules.
If you receive this notice from your landlord, you should try to comply with their requests.
If you don’t, your landlord might be able to start the eviction process against you.
What Do Landlords Are Not Allowed to Do?
There are some things your Landlord is NOT allowed to do regarding restricting your guests.
Entering your Apartment without Notice (detailed information)
Your Landlord is NOT allowed to enter your apartment whenever they want without giving you notice first.
In most states, your landlord must give you at least 24 hours notice before they enter your rental unit.
There are a few exceptions to this rule, such as if there is an emergency or if you have given your landlord permission to enter.
However, your landlord must give you notice before they enter your apartment for any reason.
Lock you out of your apartment
Your Landlord is NOT allowed to lock you out of your apartment without going through the proper legal channels first.
In most states, your landlord must give you a written notice stating they will evict you.
This notice should give you a specific reason for the eviction, and it should also give you a certain amount of time to fix the problem.
If you don’t fix the problem within the specified timeframe, your landlord can file an eviction lawsuit against you.
If the judge rules in favor of your landlord, they will be able to have you removed from the property.
However, your Landlord is NOT allowed to lock you out of your apartment without going through this legal process first.
Illegally Disconnect Your Utilities
Some unethical landlords can disconnect your utilities, such as electric, gas, or water, to get you to move out.
However, this is illegal in most states, especially if you are living in extreme weather conditions, and it’s something your landlord should NOT be doing.
If your landlord has disconnected your utilities, you should contact a lawyer or local housing authority for help.
Invade your privacy
Your Landlord is NOT allowed to invade your privacy.
This means they are NOT allowed to go through your personal belongings, listen in on your conversations, or read your emails or text messages without your permission.
Your landlord also is NOT allowed to put a camera in your rental unit unless they have a very good reason for doing so and they have given you notice first.
In general, your landlord should respect your privacy, and they should only enter your rental unit when it’s necessary.
Discrimination
Your Landlord is NOT allowed to discriminate against you based on your race, religion, gender, national origin, or any other protected characteristic.
This means they are NOT allowed to treat you differently than other tenants or to try to force you to move out because of who you are.
If you think your landlord discriminates against you, you should contact a lawyer or your local housing authority for help.
FAQs
Can the landlord bring criminal charges against my guest?
The landlord can only bring criminal charges against your guest if they have committed a crime.
For example, if your guest is caught stealing from the landlord or vandalizing the property, the landlord could bring criminal charges against them.
However, the landlord cannot bring criminal charges against your guest for being on the property without your permission.
Can the landlord evict me for having a guest over?
The landlord can only evict you for having a guest over if you have violated your lease agreement or if your guest is involved in illegal activity on the property.
Conclusion
In Conclusion, the landlord can not tell who can be at your house as long as the person is not causing any problems or breaking lease agreements.
Your landlord has a lot of rights and responsibilities, but there are also many things they CAN NOT do.
If your landlord is violating your rights or doing something they shouldn’t be doing, you should contact a lawyer or your local housing authority for help.
