Are landlords allowed to enter the property?
Last updated: October 12, 2026
Short answer
Yes, but only for a reason the law allows and usually only after written notice. In every province covered here, a landlord needs at least 24 hours' written notice for most entries, such as repairs, inspections or showings, and New Brunswick requires 7 days for ordinary repairs. A landlord can generally come in without notice only in an emergency or with the tenant's consent, and in several provinces when the unit has been abandoned. Entry outside these rules is not allowed, and the tenant can take it to the province's tenancy office.
Entry rules at a glance
Every province requires written notice before a landlord enters a rented home for an ordinary reason. What changes from province to province is how far ahead the notice can be given, the hours of entry, and the situations where no notice is needed.
| Province | Written notice | Entry hours | No notice needed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alberta | At least 24 hours, signed, with the reason, date and time | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., not on a Sunday or holiday without consent | Emergency, abandoned unit, consent |
| British Columbia | 24 hours to 30 days, with a reasonable purpose | 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. unless the tenant agrees | Emergency, abandoned unit, RTB or court order, shared common areas |
| Manitoba | 24 hours to 2 weeks, with the purpose and reasonable times | No set hours; times must be reasonable | Emergency, consent |
| Saskatchewan | 24 hours to 7 days, with a window of up to 4 hours | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless the tenant agrees | Emergency, permission given up to 7 days before |
| Ontario | 24 hours, with the reason, day and time | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. | Emergency, consent at the time, cleaning set out in the lease |
| New Brunswick | 24 hours to inspect or show to buyers; 7 days for ordinary repairs | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., not on a Sunday or holiday | Emergency, abandoned unit, consent at the time, repairs the tenant asked for in writing |
| Nova Scotia | 24 hours to 30 days, with a reasonable purpose | 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless the tenant agrees | Emergency, abandoned unit, consent |
| Prince Edward Island | 24 hours | 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., according to the PEI Rental Office | Emergency, abandoned unit, permission given up to 10 days before, Director's order |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | 24 hours, stating the time | A reasonable time | Emergency, abandoned unit, consent |
Showings near the end of a tenancy often have shorter rules. In Saskatchewan the landlord can show the unit to new tenants 2 hours after giving notice, in Newfoundland and Labrador after a reasonable effort to give 4 hours' notice, and in Ontario without written notice once a notice to end the tenancy has been given, as long as the landlord tells the tenant or tries to first.
If your landlord enters without proper notice
An entry is not allowed if there was no emergency, you did not agree to it, and the landlord did not give a proper written notice. Here is what to do:
- Write it down. Note the date, the time, who came in and what happened. British Columbia's government suggests asking the landlord to leave and reminding them of the notice rules.
- Tell the landlord in writing. A short message saying that future entries need proper notice gives you a record if it happens again.
- Apply to the tenancy office if it continues. In Ontario, an application to the Landlord and Tenant Board about an illegal entry must be made within one year. In PEI, the Form 2(A) tenant application covers unlawful entry. In Newfoundland and Labrador, a tenant whose landlord does not give proper notice and reasons may end the tenancy for interference with peaceful enjoyment and privacy, with 5 to 14 days' notice.
- Report offences. In Alberta, entering in a way or for a reason the Act does not allow is an offence, with a fine of up to $5,000.
Keep paying your rent while you sort it out. Withholding rent is not a remedy for an improper entry; see whether you can withhold rent. For what counts as proper notice for other things, such as ending a tenancy, see how much notice a landlord has to give.
Landlord entry rules in each province
Alberta
An Alberta landlord can enter with a written notice served at least 24 hours ahead. The notice must be signed and give the reason, the date and the time (or a reasonable period), and each entry needs its own notice. Entry is allowed only between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., and not on a Sunday or holiday unless you agree; if you name a different day of religious worship in writing, that day is protected instead of Sunday. The reasons are limited to inspecting the state of repair, doing repairs, pest control, showing the unit to buyers or mortgage lenders, and showing it to new tenants only after a notice ending a periodic tenancy or in the last month of a fixed term.
No notice is needed if the landlord has reasonable grounds to believe there is an emergency or that you have abandoned the unit, or if you (or another adult lawfully in the unit) agree to the entry. With proper notice you do not have to be home, and the landlord cannot insist that you leave. Entering in a way or for a reason the Act does not allow is an offence, with a fine of up to $5,000.
British Columbia
A BC landlord needs written notice given at least 24 hours and no more than 30 days before entry, stating a reasonable purpose and a date and time between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., unless you agree to another time. The same notice is needed when the landlord sends an agent. A landlord may inspect monthly with proper notice. If you are home, you can choose to let the landlord in without written notice, but you do not have to.
No notice is needed in an emergency where entry is necessary to protect life or property, with a Residential Tenancy Branch arbitrator's order or a court order, or if you have abandoned the unit. Shared areas such as hallways and courtyards can be entered without notice. You do not have to be present, you have the right to be there if you want, and the landlord cannot make you leave. The RTB can suspend a landlord's right to enter or set conditions on it.
Manitoba
A Manitoba landlord must give written notice at least 24 hours and no more than 2 weeks before entering, stating the purpose and a reasonable time or times. The Act sets no clock hours. Allowed purposes include doing the landlord's work or inspecting, an inspection by a mortgage lender or insurer, and showing the unit to buyers. If the days or hours do not work for you, you can object and propose reasonable alternatives; otherwise the landlord may enter as the notice says, even if you are not home.
No notice is needed in an emergency or with your consent. Once a notice to end the tenancy has been given, the landlord can also show the unit to prospective tenants before you move out, and the Act does not attach the written notice rule to those showings.
Saskatchewan
A Saskatchewan landlord must give written notice at least 24 hours and no more than 7 days before entry, with a reasonable purpose, the date and a window of no more than 4 hours between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., unless you agree otherwise. The landlord can also enter with your permission given up to 7 days before, or without notice in an emergency where entry is necessary to protect life or property.
Showings have their own rules. The unit can be shown to prospective tenants after you give notice to end the tenancy or in the last 2 months of a fixed term, at least 2 hours after you receive notice, and to a buyer with 24 hours' notice or your consent. All showings must be between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and not on a Sunday or your day of religious worship.
Saskatchewan landlord entry rules | Saskatchewan tenant rights
Ontario
An Ontario landlord must give 24 hours' written notice stating the reason, the day and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Allowed reasons include repairs or other work, an inspection of the state of repair, a viewing by a mortgage lender or insurer, an inspection by an engineer or architect, showing the unit to a buyer, and any other reasonable reason written in the lease. A registered real estate broker or salesperson can enter for a buyer's viewing with the landlord's written authorization. Since July 1, 2026, a reasonable inspection of an air conditioner the tenant installed is also allowed on 24 hours' notice.
No written notice is needed in an emergency, if you agree at the time, for cleaning the lease provides for (between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m.), or to show the unit to prospective tenants once a notice to end the tenancy has been given or you have agreed to end it, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and after the landlord tells you or tries to. With proper notice the landlord can enter even if you are not home. If a landlord enters illegally, you can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board within one year.
New Brunswick
A New Brunswick landlord can enter only for the reasons the Act lists, with a signed written notice that names the tenant and gives the address. The notice must be given at least 24 hours ahead to inspect the unit or show it to buyers or mortgage lenders, and at least 7 days ahead for ordinary repairs or redecorating. The government says showings to prospective tenants also need 24 hours' notice, but no notice is needed in the last rental period if the lease says so. Entry must be between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and not on a Sunday or holiday.
No notice is needed in an emergency, if the unit has been abandoned, if you agree at the time, or for repairs you asked for in writing that are done within 2 working days. Once proper notice is served, you cannot block the entry and you do not have to be home, but you must make sure any pets are secured.
New Brunswick landlord entry rules | New Brunswick tenant rights
Nova Scotia
A Nova Scotia landlord must give written notice at least 24 hours and no more than 30 days before entry, stating a reasonable purpose and a date and time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., unless you agree to a different time. The notice can be delivered in the usual ways or by text to a phone number you gave for that purpose. When the landlord is selling or renting the unit, a real estate agent must be allowed in with 24 hours' notice, but an open house needs your consent.
No notice is needed in an emergency where entry is necessary to protect life or property, if you consent at the time or within the previous 30 days, or if you appear to have abandoned the unit. The province's renting guide still mentions "daylight hours", but the 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. rule in the Act is the current one.
Nova Scotia landlord entry rules | Nova Scotia tenant rights
Prince Edward Island
A PEI landlord can enter with your permission given at the time or up to 10 days before. Otherwise the landlord needs 24 hours' written notice to do repairs or other work, to let a possible mortgage lender, insurer or appraiser view the unit, to carry out a reasonable inspection of its condition, or to show it to a possible buyer. The PEI Rental Office says entry must be between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Showings to prospective tenants are allowed only after the tenancy is set to end, with 24 hours' written notice, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and after a reasonable effort to tell you first.
No notice is needed in an emergency, if you have abandoned the unit, for housekeeping services set out in your agreement, or with an order from the Director. You may choose to be present, but the landlord does not have to wait for you and cannot require you to be home or away.
Newfoundland and Labrador
In Newfoundland and Labrador, a landlord needs your consent to enter unless there is an emergency or one of the Act's exceptions applies. The usual exception is written notice given at least 24 hours ahead, stating the time, for entry at a reasonable time. Government policy says the notice should name the tenants and the address, give the date and a reasonable time, and state the reason. Once a notice to end the tenancy has been given, the landlord can show the unit to prospective tenants or buyers at a reasonable time after a reasonable effort to give you at least 4 hours' notice. No notice is needed if you have abandoned the unit.
With proper notice the landlord can enter without your consent, even when you are out. If the landlord does not give proper notice and reasons, government policy says you may end the tenancy for interference with your peaceful enjoyment and privacy, with 5 to 14 days' notice.
Newfoundland and Labrador landlord entry rules | Newfoundland and Labrador tenant rights
Related questions
What can I do if my landlord enters without permission?
First check whether the entry was allowed. If there was no emergency, you did not agree, and the landlord did not give proper written notice, it was not. Write down the date, time and what happened, and tell the landlord in writing that future entries need proper notice. If it keeps happening, apply to your province's tenancy office. In Ontario the Landlord and Tenant Board can order the landlord to stop, pay your costs, reduce your rent or pay a fine, and the application must be made within one year. In Alberta an improper entry is also an offence, with a fine of up to $5,000.
How much notice does a landlord give to enter?
At least 24 hours' written notice for most reasons, in every province covered here. Some provinces also set a maximum: 30 days in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, 2 weeks in Manitoba and 7 days in Saskatchewan. New Brunswick requires 7 days' notice for ordinary repairs. Entry hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in Alberta, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in British Columbia, and 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. in PEI according to the PEI Rental Office. Showings near the end of a tenancy can need less: 2 hours in Saskatchewan, and in Newfoundland and Labrador a reasonable effort to give 4 hours.
Can my landlord enter when I'm not home?
Yes, if the landlord has given proper notice or there is an emergency. Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador all state that you do not have to be home for a properly noticed entry. You can choose to be there, and in Alberta, British Columbia and PEI the landlord cannot make you leave. Without proper notice, emergency or consent, the landlord should not come in whether you are home or not.
Can my landlord come into my home anytime?
No. Outside an emergency, the landlord needs your consent or a proper written notice, and the entry has to fall within set hours, such as 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. in most provinces. Alberta and New Brunswick also bar entry on a Sunday or holiday unless you agree. Some provinces also let a landlord enter an abandoned unit, and Ontario allows cleaning entries if the lease provides for them. Turning up whenever they like is not one of the options.
Is a landlord allowed to enter your bedroom?
Your bedroom is part of the home you rent, so the same entry rules apply to it: the landlord needs proper notice, an emergency or your consent. The notice must give a reason the law allows, such as a repair or an inspection, and the entry should stick to that purpose. If you rent a single room in a shared home, ask your province's tenancy office how the rules apply to your arrangement before you assume either way.
Can a landlord enter a property in an emergency?
Yes. Every province lets a landlord enter without notice or consent in a real emergency. British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Nova Scotia describe it as entry necessary to protect life or property, PEI as entry needed to protect people's health, safety or welfare or to avert or limit damage to property, and Alberta as having reasonable grounds to believe there is an emergency. A routine repair is not an emergency, so it still needs notice.
Can a landlord enter the backyard without notice?
It depends on whether the yard is shared. In British Columbia, the government says a landlord can enter common areas shared with others, such as hallways or courtyards, without notice. A yard that comes with the home you rent is a different matter, and your lease and your province's rules decide how it is treated. If your landlord keeps using a yard you have to yourself without notice, ask your province's tenancy office.
Can a landlord enter on a holiday?
Not in Alberta or New Brunswick without your agreement: both bar non-emergency entry on a Sunday or holiday. In Alberta, if you name a different day of religious worship in writing, that day is protected instead of Sunday. In Saskatchewan, showings cannot happen on a Sunday or on your day of religious worship. The other provinces control entry through notice and hours rather than particular days, so check your province's rules before refusing a weekend visit.
Can landlord enter property for repairs?
Yes, with proper notice. Repairs are an allowed reason for entry in every province covered here, usually with 24 hours' written notice. New Brunswick requires 7 days' notice for ordinary repairs or redecorating, but no notice for repairs you asked for in writing that are done within 2 working days. Emergency repairs, such as a burst pipe, can be done without notice.
What to do if landlord keeps showing up unannounced?
Keep a written record of every visit and send the landlord a short written note asking for proper notice from now on. If it continues, apply to your province's tenancy office. In British Columbia, unlawful entry can breach your right to quiet enjoyment, and the Residential Tenancy Branch can suspend or set conditions on the landlord's right to enter. In Ontario you can apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board within one year of an illegal entry. In Newfoundland and Labrador, repeated entry without proper notice can let you end the tenancy for interference with your peaceful enjoyment and privacy.
How often can a landlord enter your apartment?
There is usually no set number, but each entry needs its own lawful reason and proper notice. British Columbia allows a monthly inspection with proper notice. In Alberta, each entry needs its own written notice, and one notice covering several days is not allowed. Frequent entries that are not really needed can interfere with your right to enjoy your home, which you can raise with your province's tenancy office.
Does a landlord need permission to enter?
Not if the landlord gives proper written notice for an allowed reason. Your consent is one way a landlord can enter without notice, and an emergency is another, but a properly noticed entry does not need your permission. In Newfoundland and Labrador, government policy says that after the required written notice the landlord can enter without your consent and while you are out.
Is my landlord allowed to search my apartment?
Not simply to look through your things. A landlord can enter only for a reason the law allows, with proper notice, in an emergency or with your consent, and the reasons we found are things like inspecting the state of repair, doing repairs, pest control and showings, not searching your belongings. In British Columbia the purpose of an entry must be reasonable. Tenants are also protected from interference: Alberta's Act protects your peaceful enjoyment, British Columbia's gives you reasonable privacy, and Ontario's protects your reasonable enjoyment and bars harassment. We found no rule that deals with searches specifically, so if a landlord has gone through your things, SQRFT advice is to write down the date and what happened, tell the landlord in writing, and contact your province's tenancy office; in Ontario you have one year to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board.
Government sources
- Government of Alberta: During a tenancy
- Government of Alberta: Information for tenants
- Alberta King's Printer: Residential Tenancies Act
- Government of BC: Landlord access to rental units
- Government of BC: Residential Tenancy Act
- Manitoba Residential Tenancies Branch: What Manitoba tenants need to know
- Manitoba: The Residential Tenancies Act
- Government of Saskatchewan: The Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
- Landlord and Tenant Board: The landlord's right of entry into a rental unit
- Government of Ontario: Residential Tenancies Act, 2006
- Government of New Brunswick: Landlord entry
- Nova Scotia Legislature: Residential Tenancies Act
- PEI Rental Office: Frequently asked questions
- Government of PEI: Residential Tenancy Act
- Government of Newfoundland and Labrador: Landlord's notice to enter premises
General information, not legal advice. Rules change; check your province's tenancy office before acting.
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