Can I Enter My Rental If Tenant Moves Out Early But Lease Is Still In Place?

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Can I Enter My Rental If Tenant Moves Out Early But Lease Is Still In Place?

A landlord is dealing with a tenant who moved out early while the lease in still in place and is wondering about entering the rental. That is the question this week for Ask Landlord Hank. Remember Hank is not an attorney and he is not offering legal advice. If you have a question for him please fill out the form below.

Dear Landlord Hank:

Does a tenant retain possession of their apartment, after they vacate their unit, but before their 30 days’ moving-out notice expires?

And does the landlord need to have an authorization to enter the unit, for getting the unit move-in ready (cleaning and painting) for the new tenant, before the 30-day notice expires?

Dear Landlady Danielle,

It is customary for a landlord to retake possession of a property when the tenant moves out and turns in the property keys unless the tenant has made some other arrangement with the landlord.

We have tenants leave early all the time because it suits their lives better than staying until the last minute.

If the landlord believes a tenant has moved out, then there is no reason to wait to ready your unit for the next resident.

Usually your lease will stipulate under what conditions you have right of entry.

A reasonable person would think that when a tenant moves and turns in their keys, they are relinquishing their claim to the property – BUT, that being said, why don’t you talk to your tenant and let them know what is on your mind?

Clear communication is the best way for everyone to be on the same page.

You could just ask for the forwarding address for the return of the security deposit and tell the tenant it is OK to turn off the utilities if they’ve moved, so you can access the unit and prepare it for the next resident.

Sincerely,
Hank Rossi

Each week I answer questions from landlords and property managers across the country in my “Dear Landlord Hank” blog in the digital magazine Rental Housing Journal. https://rentalhousingjournal.com/asklandlordhank/

Can I Enter My Rental If Tenant Moves Out Early But Lease Is Still In Place?
Landlord Hank says, “A reasonable person would think that when a tenant moves and turns in their keys, they are relinquishing their claim to the property – BUT, that being said, why don’t you talk to your tenant and let them know what is on your mind?”

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Ask veteran landlord and property manager Hank Rossi your questions from tenant screening to leases to pets and more! He provides answers each week to landlords.

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I started in real estate as a child watching my father take care of our family rentals- maintenance, tenant relations, etc , in small town Ohio. As I grew, I was occasionally Dad’s assistant. In the mid-90s I decided to get into the rental business on my own, as a sideline. In 2001, I retired from my profession and only managed my own investments, for the next 10 years. Six years ago, my sister, working as a rental agent/property manager in Sarasota, Florida convinced me to try the Florida lifestyle. I gave it a try and never looked back. A few years ago we started our own real estate brokerage. We focus on property management and leasing. I continue to manage my real estate portfolio here in Florida and Atlanta.