Can my landlord come round whenever they like?

You are entitled to live in your home without interference, including from the person who owns it. What notice a landlord must give, what a refusal actually means, and where routine visits shade into harassment.

Difficulty: beginner
Time: 9 min
Read: 4 min

Short answer

A landlord or agent generally needs to give at least twenty-four hours' written notice and to visit at a reasonable time of day, and you can refuse a specific time and offer another. Emergencies — fire, flood, gas — are the exception. Repeatedly entering without consent, or letting themselves in while you are out, interferes with your right to quiet enjoyment and can amount to harassment.

The legal idea underneath this is that a tenancy gives you exclusive possession: for the duration, the property is yours to occupy and the landlord's right to be there is limited to what the law and the agreement allow. That is why a landlord holding a key does not entitle them to use it, and why 'I own it' is not an answer.

Step by step

Know the general rule.At least twenty-four hours' written notice, at a reasonable time of day, for the purpose of viewing the condition and state of repair or carrying out works. That is the position in England and Wales and the same approach applies in practice elsewhere.
Know that notice is not the same as consent.Giving notice does not entitle a landlord to enter if you are not willing. You can refuse a particular time and propose an alternative. Unreasonably refusing all access is a breach of your agreement, so the answer is to negotiate, not to stonewall.
Distinguish genuine emergencies.A fire, a serious leak, a gas smell or anything threatening life or the structure justifies entry without notice. A leaking tap does not. A landlord using 'emergency' loosely is a warning sign.
Handle viewings deliberately.Many agreements require you to allow viewings towards the end of a tenancy. The same notice rules apply, and you can reasonably ask for viewings to be grouped, limited in number and accompanied.
Insist on notice for contractors too.The requirement applies to anyone entering on the landlord's behalf. Ask for the name of the firm and the time, and do not let anyone in who arrives unannounced.
Put your preference in writing once.A short email — 'please give at least twenty-four hours' notice in writing and agree a time with me first' — sets the standard and creates the record you will need if the pattern continues.
Log every unannounced visit.Date, time, who, and what happened. A pattern is what turns individual annoyances into a harassment complaint the council can act on.
Escalate if it does not stop.Complain in writing to the landlord or agent, then to the letting agent's redress scheme where one applies, then to the council's tenancy relations or environmental health team. Persistent entry without consent can be a criminal offence.
Do not change the locks without asking.It is usually a breach of the agreement and it can create a repair charge at the end. If you have a genuine safety concern — after a break-in, or following domestic abuse — ask in writing, explain why, and offer to supply a key or to reinstate the original lock on leaving.

Tips

Send one polite email early setting out how you would like access arranged. Most problems never start after that.
Ask for the contractor's name and firm when a visit is booked. It removes the awkwardness at the door and makes unannounced arrivals obvious.
If you need the locks changed for safety, ask in writing and offer a key. Landlords almost always agree when the reason is explained.

Common mistakes

Refusing all access because you are annoyed — Unreasonably obstructing access is a breach of the agreement and can support a possession claim. Counter-propose instead of refusing.
Not writing down the first incident — One unannounced visit is an incident; a documented pattern is a case. The log has to start at the beginning to be worth anything.

If it doesn't work

The agent lets themselves in while you are at work

Cause: Entry without consent, whatever notice was given — Fix: Write once, clearly, requiring notice and agreement. Log every occurrence. Escalate to the redress scheme and the council's tenancy relations team if it continues.

Viewings are being booked constantly at short notice

Cause: Marketing pressure at the end of a tenancy — Fix: Propose a workable arrangement in writing — set days, grouped viewings, notice each time. Reasonable proposals put you in a strong position if the landlord later complains about access.

A contractor arrived unannounced

Cause: The landlord arranged it without telling you — Fix: You do not have to let them in. Ask them to rebook through the landlord with notice, and email the landlord confirming what happened.

Questions people ask

Can my landlord keep a key?

Yes, and it is normal. Holding a key does not entitle them to use it without notice and agreement, and using it to enter while you are out without consent can be harassment.

Can I refuse an inspection altogether?

Refusing all reasonable access is likely to breach your agreement and can become a ground for possession in itself. Refuse a specific time and offer an alternative rather than refusing outright.

What about a gas safety check?

The landlord has a legal duty to have an annual gas safety check carried out, and you should facilitate access. If access is genuinely impossible, propose alternative dates in writing — obstructing it puts you both at risk.

Does the landlord need notice to enter a shared house?

For your own room, yes. Common parts in a house in multiple occupation are treated differently and a landlord will normally have wider access rights to them. Check what your agreement says about the shared areas.