What is the law regarding a tenant allowing their landlord’s realtor to show the premises for sale?
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What is the law regarding a tenant allowing their landlord’s realtor to show the premises for sale?
I decided to list the property that I’ve been renting to a family for the past 7 years. The current 12-month lease is good for another 10 months. Unfortunately, the tenants are not cooperating with the realtor in scheduling times to show the house. The tenants say they have rights and don’t want to be bothered.
Asked on August 1, 2017 under Real Estate Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
The tenants do NOT have the right to stop you from showing the premises: the law recognizes the landlord's right to show his/her property for sale. Your obligation is to provide reasonable notice, generally held to be 24 hour written notice, for a showing at some reasonable time (e.g. during the day); after that, if you have the key, you can simply let the realtor or prospective buyers in regardless of what the tenants want. If you don't have a key, you can bring a legal action in court to force them to give you a copy of hey key--they have no right to exclude you from your own property. Obviously, it's better to work things out without litigation, but bear in mind, at the end of the day, you have a legal right to do this.
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