TenantsEntry and privacy

Can a tenant refuse entry to a landlord?

Last updated: October 12, 2026

Short answer

Usually not. Once your landlord has given proper written notice for a reason the law allows, you cannot refuse entry in any province covered here, and in most provinces you do not have to be home for it. You can refuse an entry that breaks the rules, such as one without proper notice, outside the allowed hours or for a reason the law does not allow, unless there is an emergency. Blocking a proper entry can backfire: in Saskatchewan it is a ground to end your tenancy, and in Ontario it is an offence.

Refusing entry at a glance

In every province covered here, a properly noticed entry is one you have to allow. What you can push back on, and how showings work, depends on where you live.

Province	After proper notice	What you can push back on	Showings
Alberta	You cannot refuse, even if you will not be home	No notice, one notice covering several days, entry outside 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. or on a Sunday or holiday, a reason the Act does not list	Buyers or mortgage lenders any time with notice; new tenants only after a notice ending a periodic tenancy or in the last month of a fixed term
British Columbia	You must not prevent access	Entry that is unreasonable or unlawful	24 hours' written notice for each showing (not by text) unless you agreed to a schedule in writing; landlord or agent must be there; no lock box without your permission
Manitoba	The landlord can enter as the notice says	You can object to the days and hours and propose reasonable alternatives	Buyers need written notice; new tenants can be shown the unit once a notice of termination has been given
Saskatchewan	Improperly denying access is a ground to end your tenancy	Notice under 24 hours or over 7 days ahead, a window longer than 4 hours, entry outside 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.	New tenants after your notice to end or in the last 2 months of a fixed term, 2 hours after you get notice; buyers with 24 hours' notice or your consent; never on a Sunday or your day of worship
Ontario	Stopping a properly noticed entry is an offence	Notice missing the reason, day or time, or entry outside 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.	Buyers with 24 hours' written notice; new tenants without written notice once the tenancy is set to end, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., after the landlord tells you or tries to
New Brunswick	No one may obstruct entry; you must secure pets	Short notice (7 days for ordinary repairs), entry on a Sunday or holiday or outside 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.	Buyers with 24 hours' notice; new tenants with 24 hours' notice, or none in the last rental period if the lease says so
Nova Scotia	The Act gives no right to refuse	Notice under 24 hours or over 30 days ahead, no reasonable purpose, entry outside 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. unless you agree	A real estate agent must be let in with 24 hours' notice; an open house needs your consent
Prince Edward Island	You cannot block entry; the landlord does not have to wait for you	No 24 hours' written notice, entry outside 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (according to the PEI Rental Office)	Buyers with 24 hours' written notice; new tenants only once the tenancy is set to end, with 24 hours' written notice, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Newfoundland and Labrador	The landlord can enter without your consent, even if you are out	A notice without proper timing or reasons	After a termination notice, a reasonable effort to give 4 hours' notice; otherwise 24 hours' written notice

When you can say no

Your right to refuse depends on whether the landlord followed the rules. You can generally say no when:

There is no proper written notice. The notice is missing, given too late, given too far ahead (more than 30 days in British Columbia and Nova Scotia, 2 weeks in Manitoba or 7 days in Saskatchewan), or leaves out the reason, date or time. In Alberta, a single notice covering several days is not allowed.
The time is outside the allowed hours. Most provinces use 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., British Columbia uses 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Alberta and New Brunswick also bar entry on a Sunday or holiday without your consent.
The reason is not one the law allows. Alberta, for example, lists a closed set of reasons, and showings to new tenants are allowed only near the end of a tenancy.

Two limits apply. An emergency is always an exception: a landlord can come in without notice when entry is needed to protect people or property. And in Manitoba, the right step is to object to the days and hours in the notice and suggest reasonable alternatives, not to refuse outright.

When the notice is proper, you can still be there if you want. In Alberta, British Columbia and PEI the landlord cannot make you leave, and in British Columbia a lock box cannot be used for showings without your permission. If a landlord comes in without following the rules, see when landlords are allowed to enter for what to do.

Refusing entry in each province

Alberta

In Alberta you cannot refuse entry when the landlord has served proper written notice, and you cannot block it because you will not be home. You do not have to be there, and the landlord cannot insist that you leave. Proper notice is signed, served at least 24 hours ahead, gives the reason, date and time, and sets an entry between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. that is not on a Sunday or holiday unless you agree. Each entry needs its own notice.

Without proper notice, and without an emergency, abandonment or your consent, you can deny entry. A landlord who enters in a way or for a reason the Act does not allow commits an offence, with a fine of up to $5,000. You may add an inside-only removable device such as a chain, but you cannot use it to keep out a landlord who gave proper notice.

Alberta landlord entry notice | Alberta tenant rights

British Columbia

In BC, once the landlord gives proper notice, you must not prevent the landlord or their agent from coming in. Proper notice is written, given 24 hours to 30 days ahead, with a reasonable purpose and a date and time between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. unless you agree to another time. You can still refuse an entry that is unreasonable or unlawful.

For showings when the landlord is selling or re-renting, the landlord must give 24 hours' written notice for each showing (not by text message) unless you agreed to a schedule in writing. The landlord or agent must be there, a lock box cannot be used without your permission, and you can stay during the showing. If entries become a problem, the Residential Tenancy Branch can suspend or set conditions on the landlord's right to enter.

BC landlord entry rules | BC tenant rights

Manitoba

In Manitoba, a landlord who gives written notice 24 hours to 2 weeks ahead, with the purpose and reasonable times, can enter as the notice says. You cannot simply refuse, but you can object to the days and hours and propose reasonable alternatives. If you do not, the landlord may enter at the noticed time, even if you are not home.

Showings to buyers need the same written notice. Once a notice of termination has been given, the landlord can also show the unit to prospective tenants before you move out.

Manitoba landlord entry rules | Manitoba tenant rights

Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan, refusing a proper entry carries a real risk: since the 2021 changes to the Act, a tenant who improperly denies the landlord access is giving the landlord a ground to end the tenancy. Proper notice is written, given 24 hours to 7 days ahead, 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.

Showings to prospective tenants are allowed 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. Showings to a buyer need 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

In Ontario, a tenant cannot refuse entry after proper notice, and the province says it is an offence for a tenant to stop a landlord from entering when proper notice has been given. Proper notice is 24 hours' written notice stating the reason, the day and a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. With that notice the landlord can enter even if you are not home.

A buyer can view the unit with 24 hours' written notice, and a registered real estate broker or salesperson can enter with the landlord's written authorization. Once a notice to end the tenancy has been given or you have agreed to end it, the landlord can show the unit to prospective tenants without written notice, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., after telling you or trying to. An entry that does not meet these rules is not one you have to allow.

Ontario landlord entry rules | Ontario tenant rights

New Brunswick

In New Brunswick, the government says no one may obstruct or prevent the landlord from entering once a proper notice of entry has been served or during an emergency. You do not have to be home, but you must make sure your pets are secured. Obstructing a landlord who is authorized to enter for repairs is an offence under the Act.

Proper notice is signed and written, given at least 24 hours ahead to inspect or show the unit to buyers or mortgage lenders, and at least 7 days ahead for ordinary repairs or redecorating. Entry must be between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. and not on a Sunday or holiday. Showings to prospective tenants need 24 hours' notice, but none in the last rental period if the lease says so.

New Brunswick landlord entry rules | New Brunswick tenant rights

Nova Scotia

In Nova Scotia, the Act gives a tenant no right to refuse an entry made with proper written notice. Proper notice is given 24 hours to 30 days ahead and states a reasonable purpose and a date and time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., unless you agree to a different time. It can be texted 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, and the agent may be asked to show proof of authorization from the owner. An open house, though, can only be held with your consent.

Nova Scotia landlord entry rules | Nova Scotia tenant rights

Prince Edward Island

In PEI, you cannot block an entry the Act allows, such as one with 24 hours' written notice for repairs, an inspection or a buyer's viewing. 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. The PEI Rental Office says entry must be between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Showings to prospective tenants are allowed only once the tenancy is set to end, with 24 hours' written notice, between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m., and after the landlord makes a reasonable effort to tell you first. If a landlord enters unlawfully, the tenant application to the Rental Office (Form 2(A)) covers it.

PEI landlord entry rules | PEI tenant rights

Newfoundland and Labrador

In Newfoundland and Labrador, once the landlord gives at least 24 hours' written notice of the time of entry, at a reasonable time, the landlord can enter without your consent and even when you are out. Government policy says the notice should name the tenants and the address, give the date and a reasonable time, and state the reason.

If a termination notice 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; otherwise showings need the normal 24 hours' written notice. If the landlord does not give proper notice and reasons, 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 to do if a tenant refuses access?

First check that your notice was proper: in writing, with an allowed reason, the right amount of notice and a time inside the allowed hours. If it was not, serve a new notice that meets the rules. If it was, you can generally enter at the noticed time even if the tenant is not home, but keep a record of the refusal and raise it with your province's tenancy office if it continues. In Saskatchewan, improperly denying access is a ground to end the tenancy, and in Ontario stopping a properly noticed entry is an offence. Do not change the locks or remove the tenant's things to get access.

What if a tenant refuses to allow the landlord to enter?

A refusal does not cancel a proper notice. Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, PEI and Newfoundland and Labrador all say the landlord can enter with proper notice whether or not the tenant is home, and British Columbia and New Brunswick say the tenant must not prevent a properly noticed entry. In Manitoba, though, a tenant can object to the days and hours and propose reasonable alternatives, so the landlord should consider those first.

What if a tenant is not giving access for repairs?

Repairs are an allowed reason for entry in every province covered here, so a tenant cannot refuse a properly noticed repair visit. In New Brunswick, ordinary repairs need 7 days' notice, and obstructing a landlord who is authorized to enter for repairs is an offence under the Act. In Saskatchewan, improperly denying access is a ground to end the tenancy. Emergency repairs, such as a burst pipe, can be done without notice in every province covered here.

What if a tenant is not allowing access to the property for showings?

Showings to buyers are allowed with notice in every province covered here, so a tenant generally has to allow them. Showings to new tenants are usually limited to the end of a tenancy: in Alberta only after a notice ending a periodic tenancy or in the last month of a fixed term, and in Saskatchewan after the tenant's notice to end or in the last 2 months of a fixed term. In British Columbia, each showing needs 24 hours' written notice unless a schedule was agreed in writing, and in Nova Scotia an open house needs the tenant's consent.

Do I have to let my landlord in?

Yes, if your landlord has given proper written notice for an allowed reason, or there is an emergency. In most provinces you do not even have to be home for it. If the notice is missing, too short, outside the allowed hours or for a reason the law does not allow, you can say no, unless it is an emergency.

Can a tenant refuse an entry notice?

Not a proper one. You can point out what is wrong with a notice that breaks the rules, for example one that covers several days in Alberta, one given more than 30 days ahead in British Columbia, or one without a reason or time in Ontario. In Manitoba, you can object to the days and hours in a notice and propose reasonable alternatives. In British Columbia, you may refuse entry that is unreasonable or unlawful.

Can a tenant refuse access for repairs?

Not when the landlord has given proper notice. Repairs are a reason for entry in every province covered here, usually on 24 hours' written notice, or 7 days in New Brunswick for ordinary repairs. In New Brunswick, repairs you asked for in writing can be done without notice if they happen within 2 working days. If the time does not suit you in Manitoba, object to the days and hours and propose alternatives rather than refusing.

What happens if you don't let your landlord in?

It depends on the province, but it can be serious. In Saskatchewan, improperly denying access gives the landlord a ground to end your tenancy. In Ontario, stopping a landlord from entering after proper notice is an offence. In New Brunswick, obstructing a landlord who is authorized to enter for repairs is an offence under the Act. In an emergency, the landlord can come in without notice anyway.

Can a tenant prevent landlord entry?

Not after proper notice. Changing the locks to keep the landlord out is not the answer either: in every province covered here a tenant needs the landlord's consent to change the locks, and the only other route, in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, New Brunswick and PEI, is an order or written authorization from the tenancy office. In Alberta you may add an inside-only removable device such as a chain, but you cannot use it to block a properly noticed entry. See the rules on changing the locks.

What are a tenant's rights when given an entry notice?

You have the right to a notice that meets the rules, an entry inside the allowed hours, and a reason the law accepts. You can be present if you want, and in Alberta, British Columbia and PEI the landlord cannot make you leave. In British Columbia, a lock box cannot be used for showings without your permission, and the landlord or agent must be there. If your landlord does not follow the rules, keep a record and contact your province's tenancy office.

Government sources

General information, not legal advice. Rules change; check your province's tenancy office before acting.

Find your next place

Browse rentals on SQRFT, with the rent shown up front.

Browse rentals