Landlord keeps entering my apartment without 24-hour notice - what can I do?

My landlord has entered my apartment at least 4 times in the past 2 months without any notice. The first time I came home and found him in my living room "checking the smoke detectors." The second time my neighbor told me she saw him go in while I was at work.

Yesterday I was in the shower and heard someone in the apartment - it was him and a contractor looking at my bathroom pipes. No text, no email, no written notice, nothing.

I feel completely violated. I have 8 months left on my lease. Is this illegal? Can I break the lease over this? What are my options?

This is absolutely illegal in virtually every state. Most states require at least 24 hours written notice for non-emergency entry.

What state are you in? The specific remedies depend on your location.

Also, start documenting everything immediately - dates, times, what happened, any witnesses. This documentation will be crucial if you need to take action.

Landlord-tenant attorney here. Your landlord is violating your right to "quiet enjoyment" of the premises - a fundamental tenant right in every state.

In California, under Civil Code Section 1954, landlords must provide reasonable notice (presumed to be 24 hours) in writing for non-emergency entries. They can only enter for specific reasons:

• Necessary or agreed-upon repairs
• Showing the unit to prospective tenants/buyers
• Under court order
• Emergency situations
• Tenant has abandoned the unit

None of what you describe qualifies as emergency entry. "Checking smoke detectors" requires notice. Pipe inspections require notice.

I'm in Los Angeles. My lease doesn't say anything about entry notice requirements - does that matter?

The lease doesn't need to mention it - Civil Code 1954 applies regardless of what your lease says. A landlord cannot contract around these statutory protections. Even if your lease said "landlord may enter at any time without notice" that provision would be void and unenforceable.

Los Angeles also has additional tenant protections under the LA Municipal Code. You should contact LA's Housing Department or a local tenant rights organization.

I dealt with this last year. Same thing - landlord would just walk in whenever he felt like it. Here's what worked for me:

1. Changed my locks (legal in CA if you provide landlord a key within 24 hours of request - see Civil Code 1941.3)
2. Sent a certified letter citing Civil Code 1954 and documenting each unauthorized entry
3. Stated that further violations would be reported to the Housing Department and I would pursue all legal remedies

Never had another unauthorized entry after that. These landlords need to be put on notice that you know your rights.

Just want to add - if you're worried about retaliation (like landlord trying to evict you or not renewing your lease), California has strong anti-retaliation laws. Under Civil Code 1942.5, a landlord cannot retaliate against you for exercising your legal rights.

If they try to evict you within 180 days of you complaining about this, it's presumed to be retaliation and the burden is on them to prove otherwise.

Quick question - what if there was a legit emergency? Like what if there was a water leak from the unit above and the landlord needed to check your place? Do they still need 24 hours notice then?

@skeptical_steve - Good question. No, true emergencies are an explicit exception under CC 1954(e). If there's an active water leak, gas leak, fire, or similar immediate threat to the property or safety, the landlord can enter without notice.

The key word is "emergency" though. Checking smoke detectors is not an emergency. Looking at pipes with a contractor to plan future work is not an emergency. An emergency is something that requires immediate action to prevent harm or significant property damage.

Landlords who abuse the emergency exception can and do get taken to small claims court.

Can I break my lease over this? I really don't feel comfortable staying here anymore. The shower incident especially - I can't shake the feeling he could just walk in anytime.

Potentially, yes. Repeated violations of your right to quiet enjoyment can constitute a "constructive eviction" - meaning the landlord's conduct has made the unit uninhabitable from a privacy standpoint.

However, before breaking the lease I'd recommend:

1. Send a formal written notice demanding compliance with Civil Code 1954
2. Document the demand was received (certified mail)
3. If violations continue, you have stronger grounds to terminate

You don't want to just walk out and have the landlord claim you broke the lease without cause. Create a clear paper trail showing you gave them opportunity to correct the behavior.

Property manager here (don't hate me). This landlord is way out of line and making all of us look bad. I would NEVER enter without notice except for a true emergency like a burst pipe or fire.

Just wanted to add - consider getting a doorbell camera or interior camera (pointed at the door, not throughout your apartment). It creates indisputable evidence of entries and timestamps. Many tenants I work with have Ring or similar devices.

OP - I had almost the EXACT same situation in San Francisco last year. Landlord entered 6 times over 3 months without notice. I sent a demand letter citing CC 1954 and requesting $2,000 per violation (thats the statutory damages allowed).

Long story short, he agreed to settle for $4,500 to avoid small claims court. The demand letter template I used made a huge differnce - made it clear I knew my rights and was serious.

Document everything and don't be afraid to demand compensation. These landlords count on tenants not knowing the law.

@DianeM_SF wow thats really helpful. I had no idea about the $2,000 per violation thing. With 4 entries that would be $8,000?? Going to look into that demand letter.

@privacy_invaded_renter - Yes, Civil Code 1954(c) provides for up to $2,000 in statutory damages per violation, plus actual damages (like if you had to take time off work, emotional distress treatment, etc.). Each unauthorized entry is a separate violation.

Small claims court in California allows claims up to $12,500, so if you have documented entries you could potentially recover significant compensation without even needing an attorney.

I'd still recommend starting with a demand letter - gives the landlord a chance to settle and shows you're serious. Many settle at this stage to avoid court.

Following this thread cuz my landlord does the same thing. He says he "knocked" but I never heard anything. Installed a ring doorbell last week and sure enough, caught him entering without any knock at all yesterday. Now I have video proof.

What should my next step be?

@JustAnotherTenant - Perfect! Save that video in multiple places (cloud, email to yourself, USB drive). Write down the exact date, time, and duration. Then send a written notice to your landlord citing the specific statute for your state and attach a screenshot from the video showing the timestamp.

Having video evidence is huge. Most landlords will immediately comply once they realize you have proof.

UPDATE: I sent a certified letter to my landlord citing Civil Code 1954 and documenting all four unauthorized entries. I also installed a Ring camera at my front door.

Got a call from him two days later. He was apologetic (surprising) and said he "didn't realize it was such a big deal." He agreed to always provide 24-hour written notice going forward. I'm documenting this conversation in an email follow-up to him.

We'll see if he actually complies. If not, I'm ready to escalate.

Good outcome so far! The "didn't realize it was a big deal" excuse is classic. He knew, he just didn't think you'd push back.

Smart move following up in writing. Keep copies of everything. If he violates again after this acknowledgment, you'll have an even stronger case.

Glad this is working out for you OP. I wish I had found this forum sooner. My old landlord in San Diego entered my apartment probably 10+ times over my 2 year lease. I never said anything because I didnt want to cause problems. Looking back I should have stood up for myself.

For anyone reading this - don't be like me! Know your rights.

Bookmarking this thread. My landlord has been doing "inspections" every few weeks and only gives like 2 hours notice by text. I told him that's not 24 hours and he said "close enough." Is 2 hours notice actually a violation?

@Carlos_Mendez_LA - Yes, 2 hours notice is a violation. CC 1954(d)(2) creates a presumption that 24 hours is reasonable notice. While "reasonable" isn't strictly defined as exactly 24 hours, 2 hours is nowhere close to reasonable.

Additionally, "inspections every few weeks" raises another issue. Landlords can only enter for specific permitted purposes. General inspections are allowed if stated in the lease, but frequent inspections could constitute harassment.

I'd recommend sending written notice that you require the full 24 hours as provided by statute, and ask him to explain the legitimate purpose for such frequent inspections.

SUCCESS STORY: I used this thread as a guide when my landlord in Oakland started entering without notice. Sent a formal demand letter citing CC 1954, documented 3 unauthorized entries, and demanded $6,000 in statutory damages.

He countered with $1,500 and a promise to always give proper notice. I accepted because honestly I just wanted it to stop and didnt want to deal with court. Its been 2 months now and hes given proper notice every time.

Thanks everyone for the info here!

@kaylee_p Congrats! That's a great outcome. $1,500 plus compliant behavior going forward is a win. Sometimes its not about getting every dollar, its about being respected as a tenant.

One month update: He's been fully compliant since my letter. Got proper 24-hour written notice for a plumber visit last week. I think the combination of knowing the law and having the camera made him realize I'm serious.

Thanks to everyone who helped. For anyone else dealing with this - know your rights and put everything in writing. Most landlords will back down when they realize you're not going to be a pushover.

Just found this thread and I have a slightly different situation. My landlord gave 24 hours notice but said they're coming "between 8am and 6pm" - so basically anytime during a 10 hour window. I work nights and sleep during the day. Is this valid notice?

@BayAreaNurse - The notice should include an "approximate time" per CC 1954(d)(1). A 10-hour window is arguably not an approximate time. Courts generally expect something more specific like "between 10am-12pm" or "around 2pm."

You can respond in writing saying you require a more specific time window, and also mention your work schedule so they can try to accomodate. Most reasonable landlords will work with you on timing.

UPDATE from my earlier post: Sent my landlord the Ring video showing him entering without knocking plus a demand letter. He initially got defensive and said I was being "difficult." I told him I'd be filing in small claims court if we couldn't resolve this.

He called me back the next day and offered $800 to "make this go away." I took it. Not the full $2k per violation but honestly the video proof made him realize he had no leg to stand on. No more unauthorized entries since!

These settlement stories are great to see. As a property manager, I can tell you most landlords will settle because:

1. They know they're wrong
2. Small claims court takes time they don't want to spend
3. A judgment on record looks bad for future financing/sales

Don't be afraid to push back. You have leverage.

Wow glad I found this thread. My landlord just pulled the same thing last week - walked in while I was working from home. I literally screamed because I didnt hear him come in.

He claimed he "texted me" but I never got any text. Even if he did, doesn't Ohio require written notice too? Going to start documenting everything like yall suggested.

@NewbieTenant_Ohio - Ohio law (ORC 5321.04) requires "reasonable notice" before entry but doesn't specify a time period. However, most courts interpret this as 24 hours. Text messages are generally acceptable as written notice IF you actually received them and they gave adequate time.

If you never received the text, thats not valid notice. Document the lack of notification by screenshotting your text history with him showing no message. The Ring camera suggestion from earlier in this thread is really worth considering.

Just wanted to share a pro tip for documentation. I work at a law firm and we always tell clients to keep an "entry log" with these details:

• Date and time of entry
• How you learned about the entry (came home to find them, heard them, neighbor told you, etc.)
• Who entered (landlord, maintenance, contractor, etc.)
• What notice was provided (if any)
• What they said when confronted
• Any witnesses

Keep this in a notebook with dated entries or a spreadsheet. This kind of contemporaneous documentation is taken very seriously by judges.

Question - can you change the locks without telling your landlord first? My landlord has a history of just showing up and I want to prevent that before it happens again.

@mike_p_92 - In California yes, but with conditions. Under CC 1941.3, you can change/add locks but you MUST provide the landlord with a key upon request. The law says you have to give them a key within 24 hours of their written request.

So you can change the locks, but you can't lock the landlord out entirely. You're just ensuring they can't enter without you knowing (because theyd need to request the new key first).

Check your lease too - some have provisions about lock changes requiring landlord approval, though those provisions may not override your statutory rights.

HORROR STORY that eventually worked out: My landlord in Encino was entering my apartment while I was at work and going through my stuff. I only found out because my roommate's laptop was moved and her webcam auto-records motion. We had VIDEO of him opening her desk drawers.

We were terrified but sent a demand letter threatening police report plus civil action. He tried to claim he was "looking for a water leak" but we had him on camera going through papers and looking in closets. He settled for $7,500 between both of us and we broke the lease penalty-free.

PLEASE get cameras. You never know what theyre doing when youre not there.

@Valley_Tenant_2025 - That goes beyond just a CC 1954 violation. Going through your belongings could constitute invasion of privacy (tort claim), trespass, and depending on what he looked at, potentially criminal behavior. You did the right thing documenting and demanding compensation.

For anyone else - if your landlord is doing more than just entering (going through belongings, spending excessive time, entering bedrooms when the stated purpose is in another room), document that too. The damages can be much higher.

Anyone have experience with small claims court specifically for this? My landlord ignored my demand letter and entered twice more after I sent it. I filed in small claims for $6,000 (3 violations at $2k each) and my hearing is next month.

What should I bring? How does it work?

@PatrickW_LB - Great that you're pursuing this. For small claims court, bring:

1. Your lease agreement
2. Copies of all written notices (or lack thereof) from landlord
3. Your entry log with dates and details
4. Any video/photo evidence
5. Copy of your demand letter and proof it was sent/received (certified mail receipt)
6. A printed copy of CC 1954 (courts appreciate this)
7. Any text/email communications about entries

Be prepared to explain each violation clearly and briefly. Judges have limited time. State the facts, cite the statute, show your evidence, and request your damages. Don't get emotional - be professional.

Good luck! Please update us on how it goes.

Just want to say thanks for this thread. I was in a similar situation and was ready to just accept it because I didnt want to rock the boat with only 4 months left on my lease. Reading how OP handled it gave me confidence to push back.

Sent my landlord a polite but firm email citing my state's tenant rights and he apologized. Sometimes you just gotta stand up for yourself I guess.

Question for the attorneys here - my landlord claims he has a "right" to do quarterly inspections with only 6 hours notice because its in the lease. Is that enforceable?

The lease literally says "Landlord may conduct inspections with 6 hours advance notice." I signed it but I didnt really understand what I was agreeing to.

@Teresa_M_Fresno - No, that lease provision is likely unenforceable. As discussed earlier in this thread, CC 1954 sets the floor for tenant protections in California. A landlord cannot contract around these statutory minimums.

The statute says notice must be "reasonable" with 24 hours presumed to be reasonable. 6 hours is not reasonable. Your landlord can put whatever they want in the lease, but a court won't enforce provisions that violate your statutory rights.

I'd respond in writing citing CC 1954 and stating you require the legally mandated 24 hours notice regardless of what the lease says.

came here from reddit lol. this thread is gold. my LL in riverside has been pulling this crap for months. gonna get a ring doorbell and start logging everything. thanks all

UPDATE: Had my small claims hearing yesterday. It went really well!

The judge was very familiar with CC 1954. My landlord tried to argue that I had "implicitly consented" by not complaining sooner but the judge shot that down immediately. He also tried to say the entries were emergencies but I had photos showing no emergency conditions.

Judge awarded me $4,500 - not the full $6k I asked for but she said she was awarding $1,500 per violation. She also gave a stern lecture to my landlord about respecting tenant privacy.

Total time in court was maybe 20 minutes. So worth it. Thanks for all the advice @RealEstateLaw_Chen!

@PatrickW_LB - Congratulations! That's an excellent result. $1,500 per violation is consistent with what many judges award. The statute says UP TO $2,000, so judges have discretion.

This is a great example for others - small claims court works for these cases. You don't need an attorney, you just need good documentation and knowledge of the law.

This might be a dumb question but what counts as "written" notice? My landlord sends voice memos. Is that written notice??

@Jennifer_K_SJ - Not a dumb question! The statute specifically requires notice be "in writing" per CC 1954(d)(1). Voice memos are not writing. Text messages, emails, letters - those are written. A voicemail or voice memo is not.

That said, some landlords try to argue that any recorded communication counts. I'd push back and insist on actual written notice you can read and save.

Timeline of my experience for anyone curious about how these things go:

Aug 15: First unauthorized entry (came home to find maintenance in my unit)

Aug 28: Second entry, landlord "checking AC"

Sep 3: Installed Ring camera

Sep 10: Third entry caught on camera

Sep 12: Sent demand letter via certified mail requesting $6k

Sep 20: Landlord's attorney calls, offers $1,500

Sep 25: I counter at $4,000

Oct 1: Settled at $3,000, landlord signed agreement to provide proper notice

Nov 18: Zero unauthorized entries since settlement

Total time from first entry to resolution: about 6 weeks. Totally worth standing up for myself.

This is so helpful. My situation is a little differnt though - my landlord sends his adult son to "check on things" randomly. The son doesnt even work for a property managment company or anything, hes just the landlords kid. Is this even legal??

He showed up last week while I was home alone with my kids and it really scared me.

@SarahMom_3kids - The same rules apply regardless of who the landlord sends. Whether it's the landlord personally, their son, a contractor, or anyone else - proper notice is still required under CC 1954.

In fact, sending random family members to "check on things" with no legitimate purpose may not even qualify as a permitted entry reason under the statute. The son isn't there to make repairs or show the unit to prospective tenants, so what's the legitimate purpose?

I would send a written notice to the landlord (not the son) demanding this stop immediately and citing the statute. Make clear that anyone entering must have proper notice AND a legitimate permitted purpose.

@SarahMom_3kids - That's completely inappropriate. As a property manager, sending random family members to "check on" tenants is a huge red flag. There's no legitimate business purpose for that.

Document these visits, send the written demand, and if it continues, consider whether this rises to the level of harassment. You might also want to look into whether your local jurisdiction has additional protections.

Paralegal here working in landlord-tenant law. Just want to add something I haven't seen mentioned yet - if you're in subsidized housing (Section 8, LIHTC, etc.), there may be additional entry notice requirements in your program rules beyond what state law requires.

Also, if your landlord retaliates against you for asserting your rights (tries to evict you, refuses to renew lease, raises rent), document that too. Retaliation claims can result in significant additional damages.

Question - I'm moving out in 60 days and my landlord wants to show the apartment to prospective tenants. He says he can enter anytime during business hours with just a few hours notice because hes "showing the unit." Is that true?

@Kevin_L_Sac - No, showing the unit is a permitted purpose but the 24-hour notice requirement still applies. CC 1954(d)(2) does say that if the purpose is to show the unit, the notice can be given orally (rather than in writing) but it still must be given at least 24 hours in advance and must include the date, approximate time, and purpose.

Your landlord cannot just show up with prospective tenants whenever they feel like it. 24 hours advance notice is still required.

Update from my earlier post about the 2-hour notice "inspections" - I sent a formal letter citing CC 1954 and the inspections stopped completely. Landlord hasnt even tried to enter in 4 months now lol. Guess he only wanted to do "inspections" when he thought I wouldnt push back.

Knowledge really is power.

Can I use an interior camera to record the landlord if they enter? Is that legal in CA? I know California is a two-party consent state for audio recording...

@Nina_P_Berkeley - Video recording in your own home is legal. The two-party consent issue is about audio recording of confidential conversations. A camera in a common area of your apartment (living room, near front door) recording someone who enters is generally fine.

That said, I'd recommend posting a small sign near the camera that says "video surveillance in use" - this way there's no expectation of privacy for anyone who enters and sees the sign.

I'm not a lawyer though so maybe one of the attorneys here can confirm.

@LArenterguy has it basically right. Video recording in common areas of your own home is legal. The two-party consent statute (Penal Code 632) applies to confidential communications, and there's an argument that someone entering your home without authorization has no reasonable expectation of privacy.

The sign suggestion is smart - it eliminates any ambiguity. Ring doorbells and similar devices are extremely common and generally accepted. I've never seen a landlord successfully challenge a tenant's right to use security cameras in their own unit.

6 MONTH UPDATE: Wow this thread blew up! So glad it's helping people.

Quick update on my situation - landlord has been 100% compliant since my original letter back in July. Gets proper written notice for everything now, always 24+ hours in advance. The Ring camera was the best $100 I ever spent.

I'm actually renewing my lease next month. Our relationship has honestly improved because I established clear boundaries. He treats me with more respect now.

For anyone just finding this thread - stand up for yourself! You have rights. Document everything, know the law, and don't be afraid to assert yourself professionally.

@privacy_invaded_renter - That's the best possible outcome! You stood up for yourself AND maintained a good relationship. This is proof that asserting your rights doesn't have to be adversarial.

Thanks for coming back to update. Stories like yours encourage others to take action.

First time poster, long time lurker. Just wanted to share that I used the demand letter template from this site after my landlord entered twice without notice. Sent it certified mail last week.

Got a check for $2,500 in the mail today with a note saying "per our agreement to resolve this matter." No court, no drama, just a letter that showed I knew my rights.

This forum is amazing. Thank you all.

@JohnP_firsttimer Congrats!! Thats exactly how it should work. Demand letter + knowledge of the law = results.

UPDATE on my situation with the landlords son doing random "check ins" - sent the demand letter as suggested and the landlord called me furious saying I was "making trouble." I stayed calm and said I was simply asking him to follow state law.

He said his son would stop coming by but then tried to increase my rent by $400/month at renewal. Pretty obvious retaliation. I filed a complaint with the housing department citing CC 1942.5 (anti-retaliation). Case is pending but the housing inspector told me off the record that this looks like clear retaliation.

Will update when I know more. Standing my ground.

@SarahMom_3kids - Good for you for filing the complaint. A $400/month increase right after you complained about illegal entries is textbook retaliation. Under CC 1942.5, any adverse action within 180 days of asserting your rights is presumed retaliatory.

Keep documenting everything. The timeline here is very clear and works in your favor. You may have claims for both the illegal entries AND the retaliation.

Just adding a tech tip for anyone using cameras for documentation: Make sure your camera saves to the cloud, not just local storage. I've heard horror stories of landlords seeing the camera and "accidentally" unplugging it or even taking the SD card.

With cloud storage (Ring, Nest, Wyze with subscription, etc.), the footage is saved immediately and the landlord can't tamper with it. Worth the $3-5/month for cloud storage imo.

@MikeTech_SD - Great tip. And as a property manager, any landlord who tampers with a tenant's security camera is asking for serious legal trouble. That's destruction of property, tampering with evidence, and shows clear consciousness of guilt. Just don't do illegal stuff and you won't need to worry about cameras.

Found this thread while researching my options. My landlord entered yesterday while I was at work - only knew because my cat was in the bedroom when I left and was in the living room when I got home (she can't open doors lol). No notice given.

Planning to install a camera today and send a demand letter this week. Thanks everyone for all the info here. Will report back!

@Lisa_L_Irvine - The cat thing is actually clever evidence! Note that in your documentation - "Cat was in bedroom when I left at X time, found in living room when I returned at Y time, cat cannot open doors, indicating someone entered the unit." Combined with camera footage going forward, you'll have a solid case.

Good luck! This thread will be here if you need more advice.

Final Update - Marking This Thread Resolved!

It's been about 7 months since I first posted here, and I wanted to formally close out this thread with a final summary.

Summary of Resolution:

• Landlord has been 100% compliant with 24-hour written notice requirements since my initial certified letter in July 2024
• Ring doorbell camera provided peace of mind and documented proper compliance
• Just renewed my lease for another year - relationship with landlord has actually improved
• No legal action was ultimately needed - the demand letter citing Civil Code 1954 was enough

What worked: Knowing my rights under California Civil Code 1954, sending a formal certified letter documenting each violation, installing a Ring camera for evidence, and following up the landlord's verbal agreement with written confirmation. The combination of clear documentation and demonstrating knowledge of the law made him take me seriously.

Huge thanks to @RealEstateLaw_Chen, @TenantRights_Jessica, @DianeM_SF, @LArenterguy, @MarkJ_PropManager, and everyone else who contributed advice and shared their own experiences. This thread gave me the confidence to stand up for myself.

Key lessons for other tenants:

1. Know your rights - in California, landlords MUST give 24-hour written notice for non-emergency entry
2. Document everything - keep a log with dates, times, and details of every unauthorized entry
3. Get a camera - Ring or similar doorbell cameras are worth every penny
4. Send written notice citing the specific statute (CC 1954 in California)
5. Standing up for yourself doesn't have to be adversarial - it can actually improve the landlord-tenant relationship

If you're dealing with a landlord who enters without notice, don't just accept it. You have rights, and most landlords will comply once they realize you know the law. And if they don't, small claims court awards up to $2,000 per violation.

Marking this thread as RESOLVED. Good luck to everyone dealing with similar issues!