Can the landlord keep coming into our space?

Landlords may enter rental units, but only for valid reasons and (whenever possible) with adequate notice. Remember, you have a right to posses and use the property through leasing it, but the landlord is still the owner or owner’s agent.

The landlord’s entry rights try to balance the competing rights of renter and owner. Valid reasons for a landlord to enter include maintenance and repair (indeed, if the landlord didn’t perform maintenance and make repairs, he would be in violation of his obligations). Another common valid reason is to show an apartment or property to prospective renters, when a lease term is coming up; and finally, of course, they can enter in an emergency—for example, if you have the water shutoff, if pipes rupture somewhere in the building, they can enter your space to shut the water off.

However, unless it’s an emergency—a fire, a major leak, an electrical fault, etc.—the landlord needs to provide “reasonable” notice before entry. That’s to give the tenant time to get ready for the entry and not be caught off guard. Under Ohio’s law, 24 hour notice is generally considered reasonable (and in that, Ohio’s right in the mainstream—24 notice is the usual rule). Landlord’s should also enter at “reasonable” times, which is not as strictly defined, but would tend to include not early in the morning, not on holidays, not late at night, etc.

So when there is a legitimate reason, the landlord may enter your apartment. But he can’t enter unless it’s for repairs, maintenance, to show to possible renters, or for an emergency; and unless it’s for an emergency, he should give you at least 24 hours notice and only enter at a reasonable time.