Landlord Entered my Premises

Question

My girlfriend and I went on vacation and when we had returned home we found all of our newspapers from the week on our kitchen table. We spoke with our landlord and she stated that she did in fact go into our house to drop those things off. I appreciate the favor and everything, but she still can't just do that right? Also, is this grounds for terminating the lease?

Answer 1

by law they can not enter your apartment without a written consent from you. Yes there a serious grounds for terminating a lease.

Answer 2

Legally, her action is not grounds to terminate your lease.

The landlord can enter with proper notice. Your permission or consent is not needed. Since you were on vacation, how is she supposed to give you proper notice?

Was she even aware that you were on vacation? If not, the papers accumulating for several days may have given her a reason to enter to check on things.

If all she did was enter to drop off the papers, which were likely accumulating on the property, she did you no wrong and you suffered no damage. Accumulation of such items is an open invitation for a break in.

Gawd ... had she left the papers out and your place was broken into, you would probably be here asking if the break in was a reason to terminate your lease.

Answer 3

The landlord *owns* the property.  Keep that in mind.  You're just renting.

Check the terms of the lease, but most say that the landlord can enter at their discretion.  Sometimes with notice, under some circumstances without.

No, your landlady delivering newspapers while you were on vacation is not grounds for terminating the lease.  She can say, reasonably, that accumulating newspapers were a security issue that invited a break-in (and that you should have arranged to have your newspaper deliveries stopped).

Answer 4

I would not call this reason to terminate the lease. What the landlord did was wrong unless your lease gives her permission to enter for non-emergency reasons without first notifying you. Personally I think you should be thanking her. Newspapers not picked up is just an invitation for criminals to enter your apartment. You could have been dead or injured in the apartment, the landlord could have saved you. Just remind her that she is not supposed to enter your unit and be done with it. Be sure she has emergency contact information in case she ever feels the need to enter again.

Answer 5

You can terminate the lease due to breach of contract.  She is not allowed to enter your apartment, even if its to do a favor for you.  You never asked for a favor.  I mean, it could have been a ploy to look into your personal life, to steal something, to take pictures to sell the house, etc etc.  I mean, its really disrespectful and inconsiderate.  It becomes your personal property/space when you live there.  I would feel violated because that is considered tresspassing.  

She does own the property, but do remember on your lease papers, she has to give you at least 24 hours notice if she wants to enter the apartment.  So, without your notice, it becomes a breach of contract.

Answer 6

SHe can enter with 24 hour notice.   Since you were gone more then 24 hours, yes.   She does not need your permission to enter her property.

Answer 7

She owns the house.  You are renting from her.  Apparently she picked up your newspapers when she drove by checking on her investment.  Newspapers in the yard, mail in the box, paper ads on the door are all indications no one is around and the house is ripe for a home invasion or vandalism.

No, it is not grounds for terminating your lease, but you could tell her that you would appreciate a heads up when she plans to enter your home.  That would be the courteous thing for any landlord to do.