Break Lease: Showing the apt - Landlord Forum thread 360154

Break Lease: Showing the apt by david on January 12, 2020 @13:44

What do you think of this?

SITUATION: Otherwise decent Tenant couple want to renew yearly lease soon but in this next year wants the ability to break the lease at some unidentified point during that lease as they intend to buy a house. No problem. In the new lease both to end THAT lease and the generous break lease clause I have proposed, they must give me 60 days advance notice and it must be 60 days prior to the beginning of the first full month they will be vacated. They are OK with that. And in terms of showing the apt near the end of their lease, like starting the 6th week prior to vacating, only licensed real estate agents and their prospective tenants will be able to enter the apartment. I (the landlord) will not be showing it or allow anyone to see it other than through MLS.

HOWEVER: For both types of ending the lease above they are stating that for every time a realtor will show the apt they need at least 24 hours notice. Now the viewing time is stated from 9:30 am - 6:30 PM. And they are not in the apt at all during M-Thursday during working hours. But they are stating they need at least 24 hours advance notice. This is unreasonable from my point of view. Any suggestions on how to respond?

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Re: Break Lease: Showing the apt by Garry on January 12, 2020 @14:31	[ Reply ]

In my view, YOU are the one who is being unreasonable. Giving a 24 hour notice to show a place, whether it's for rent or for sale, is common practice all over the whole United States. In fact, most all STATES have laws that say that very thing. Tens of millions of Landlords, Realtors, maintenance personal, building and housing inspectors, etc. have to give a 24 hour notice before entering a residence. WHY do you feel YOU should be any different ??? Besides, every Licensed Realtor in ANY state, ALREADY KNOWS they have to get permission to show a place, from anyone who is currently living there. They have to follow the laws for Realtors, even if you don't think you need to as a landlord. Now, yes, you may be able to get your tenants to compromise in some way, but make 1 misstep of not giving ample notice, and any tenant, anywhere in the country, can deny access to a place until they move out, EVEN if it's in the lease that they HAVE to give access. And the only way YOU can get access then, is to go to court, and have a judge give you LEGAL access-----which could take 1-2 months. If you want your tenants to work with you, you MUST work with them. After reading your post, to me, it all looks one-sided----in YOUR FAVOR ONLY, not the tenants.

Re: Break Lease: Showing the apt

Re: Break Lease: Showing the apt by LM on January 15, 2020 @13:34	[ Reply ]

You gotta follow law regarding reasonable notice. Tenants are not being unreasonable here.

Re: Break Lease: Showing the apt by Brendan on January 17, 2020 @17:01	[ Reply ]

I think they want to be your boss and I would decline their restrictive offer. What they are doing is offering what is the state law, most likely, and adding constraints on your ability to show. I would not renew a new lease with them; they can have a month-to-month rental agreement with no written special entry arrangements. Keep your freedom to show. Inform them they will have 24 hour notice appt to show. Can you imagine how miserable they could make you for up to a year under their wishes.

Re: Break Lease: Showing the apt