My landlord informed me he was putting my home up for sale. The problem I am having is with the realtor showing the property. He is constantly coming in my home and doing "inspections", etc. When someone shows the house, lights are left on; windows are raised-left open & unlocked; he took my basement door off and set it in my garage; he poured pure Clorox on the concrete basement floor, which I am highly allergic to, and I had to leave my house & stay with a friend until it had aired out - I got a severe headache and nausea and swollen throat from the fumes. Do I have any rights? Can he come into my home and do anything he wants to, and do I have to be nice to him? I really want to just scream at him! Please advise!!

Hello Harmonica:

Look in your lease and find the "BE NICE TO JERK REALTORS" paragraph. I'll bet you won't find it.

However, if you look further, you WILL find a part that says IF they (the owners or their agents) want to inspect, they need to give you reasonable notice. "Reasonable" notice has been determined in court to be at least 24 hours. Additionally, it can be assumed that since they are required to give YOU notice, you can "reasonably" refuse, if for example, you have a party scheduled for that time.

You are also not required to be absent. I wouldn't be absent. I'd want to watch what the guy is doing and I'd want to know who is going where in MY home. I'll bet he wouldn't be pouring stuff on your floor if you were there.

What I would DO about the situation is thus: Write your landlord a letter outlining the provisions in the lease and your expectations that he will adhere to them, just as he expects YOU to adhere to YOUR requirements. Tell him that if his agent shows up announced again, or without reasonable notice, you won't let him him.

Send your letter certified, return receipt requested. Send a copy to the offending realtor. An email works too.

excon