# I'm going to refuse realtor access to my rented home, thoughts? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 12, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228 "2008-02-12T00:41:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/1 "2008-02-12T00:41:37Z")
A few days ago, I started a thread that got no replies, about dealing with a landlord who’s selling the house we rent. I’m giving this one more shot. Since our negotiations with the landlord have been going very slowly (our email turnaround is about six hours, his, two or three days), I’m going to call the real estate agent this evening to let them know that their requested visit to the house is not agreeable, and in the absence of 24-hour advance written notice, we’re saying no. I’m hoping that this will let our landlord know that we’re serious, and not going to be jerked around. The plan is to call tonight rather than wait at the front door tomorrow and turn them away as we could, because my roommates convinced me that the latter was just being a jackass for its own sake. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/2 "2008-02-12T00:59:13Z")
The law here is 24 hour written notice required for a real estate agent to show a rented property, and it sounds like that is the same where you are. I see no reason to go out of your way for someone who isn’t prepared to do things by the book. Calling the real estate agent is a good idea - he might light a fire under your landlord to quit being such a dick. What are you negotiating with your landlord? ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/3 "2008-02-12T01:07:56Z")
Basically, we want him to sign a liability agreement to cover any potential damage to our stuff, and to reduce our rent while he’s selling it, the amount dependent on how much he expects us to put up with above the legally required stuff. For example, they want to have an open house on the weekend, etc. We’re not going to agree to that unless we have a good reason to. We also think that we have a good position to negotiate from, since he’s unlikely to find someone willing to move in during a sale. So it’s whatever he can get out of us, or nothing. We don’t have many illusions of continuing to rent the place after it’s been sold, so we have little to lose. It’s either move out soon, or move out slightly later. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/4 "2008-02-12T01:10:55Z")
I think you can ask for those things, but I don’t think you have much of a legal leg to stand on. Houses are shown with tenants in them all the time; it’s a hassle for the tenants, but the owner of the property is allowed to show his property with proper notice given to tenants. But like you say, it’s move out now or move out later. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/5 "2008-02-12T01:13:34Z")
Yeah, but not on the weekend unless we agree to it, which is when the majority of house-hunting traffic is. And, while they can come and show potential buyers the place, there’s nothing that says we have to let them stage an event in our house. ---
**Author:** ![Cat\_Whisperer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cat_whisperer/32/4839_2.png) [@Cat\_Whisperer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cat_Whisperer)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/6 "2008-02-12T01:18:05Z")
Okay, that makes sense. An open house is a large inconvenience for someone living in the house. ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/7 "2008-02-12T01:42:36Z")
[QUOTE=iamthewalrus(:3=] Yeah, but not on the weekend unless we agree to it, which is when the majority of house-hunting traffic is. And, while they can come and show potential buyers the place, there’s nothing that says we have to let them stage an event in our house. [/QUOTE] Underlining mine. Check the law- it’s NOT your house, it’s your landlord’s house. Renters have certain rights, but it’s always better to double-check. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 1:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/8 "2008-02-12T01:49:01Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] Underlining mine. Check the law- it’s NOT your house, it’s your landlord’s house. Renters have certain rights, but it’s always better to double-check. [/QUOTE] I have checked the law. It says that we, as renters, have exclusive rights to the property, except for certain cases. Those cases do not include weekend visits or to host events (except with our permission). I’m not a lawyer, but the language is pretty clear, and both the CA sponsored HUD website and several others have confirmed my interpretation. ---
**Author:** ![Mongo\_Ponton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Mongo\_Ponton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mongo_Ponton)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/9 "2008-02-12T02:09:37Z")
Why don’t you guys just buy the house and put an end to this. ---
**Author:** ![koeeoaddi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/koeeoaddi/32/408_2.png) [@koeeoaddi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/koeeoaddi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/10 "2008-02-12T02:22:05Z")
I feel for you, \*\*iamthewalrus(:3= \*\*. Selling your own house is bad enough, selling somebody else is the absolute pits. With that in mind, we always write into a lease that the house will not be on the market during the period of tenancy. When the lease is up and goes month to month, we ask for 30 days to get out if they want to sell. If I were you, I’d start looking now. Life is too short and, with the market crash – at least in my corner of Bubblopolis – rentals are abundant. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8c91f0/32.png) [@Throatwarbler\_Mangrove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Throatwarbler_Mangrove)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/11 "2008-02-12T02:24:36Z")
The property is definitely in the care and possession of **Walrus** , so I would say he is perfectly correct to call it “his house”. As for the OP’s question, yeah, I’m all for it. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/12 "2008-02-12T02:27:21Z")
> [@Mongo Ponton](#): > > Why don’t you guys just buy the house and put an end to this. Because it’s in Santa Barbara. The house next door sold for $1.4 million a few months ago. This property has 2 houses on it, so it’s probably going to go for close to $2 million. Good news, though. Sort of. Just as I was going to call the real estate agent, the landlord emailed me and said he was sending written notice, “postponing” the open house, and offering a small deduction in rent. I would have preferred a larger one, but my roommates will be happy to stay longer, I think. Even if it’s only a little while longer. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/13 "2008-02-12T21:36:59Z")
I feel for you. I’m in the process of buying a home that is currently being rented, so I’ve been there for 3 visits (two in one day) and I’ll be back again this week for an inspection. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/14 "2008-02-13T18:04:14Z")
You are boarding the express train to eviction, my friend. ---
**Author:** ![Spit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/76d3ee/32.png) [@Spit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spit)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/15 "2008-02-13T18:18:42Z")
[QUOTE=Gatopescado] You are boarding the express train to eviction, my friend. [/QUOTE] Nah- He lives in California. The landlord will need several pounds of C4 to get him out. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/16 "2008-02-13T19:01:52Z")
[QUOTE=Gatopescado] You are boarding the express train to eviction, my friend. [/QUOTE] Yeah, insisting on your legal rights is always justification for eviction. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Ubertwizzler](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ubertwizzler](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ubertwizzler)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 7:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/17 "2008-02-13T19:06:50Z")
By all means, stick to the 24 hour rule. And if you get ignored and want to play hardball, put a large sign in the entry that says “This house is the subject of a threatened legal action over improper realtor activities.” Let him explain that to clients. ---
**Author:** ![iamthewalrus\_3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/258eb7/32.png) [@iamthewalrus\_3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iamthewalrus_3)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 7:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/im-going-to-refuse-realtor-access-to-my-rented-home-thoughts/437228/18 "2008-02-13T19:10:27Z")
[QUOTE=Gatopescado] You are boarding the express train to eviction, my friend. [/QUOTE] It doesn’t look like it’s going to come to that. But, if it does, oh well. As I said, I doubt we’ll be able to live there after it’s sold, so we’ve got little to lose. And, while we probably could dig in and stay for months without paying, we’re not going to. If he asks us to leave, we’ll leave.