Quick Answer
No. Under UK law your landlord must give you at least 24 hours written notice before entering your home — and even then, only at a reasonable time and with your permission. Entering without notice is a breach of your right to quiet enjoyment and may constitute harassment. There is only one narrow exception: a genuine emergency.
Your home is your home — even if someone else owns it. One of the most fundamental rights you have as a UK tenant is the right to quiet enjoyment: the right to live in your property without interference from your landlord.
Yet landlord entry without notice is one of the most common complaints tenants make. This guide explains exactly what the law says, what counts as an emergency, and what to do if your landlord keeps letting themselves in.
The Legal Position: The 24-Hour Notice Rule
Under Section 11 of the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the common law right to quiet enjoyment implied into every tenancy agreement, your landlord must give you at least 24 hours written notice before entering your property — for any reason, including:
- Inspections and property checks
- Repairs and maintenance
- Showing the property to new tenants or buyers
- Meter readings
- Any contractor visits arranged by the landlord
Notice must be given in advance and entry must take place at a reasonable time — usually between 8am and 6pm on weekdays. Your landlord cannot give notice at 11pm for entry at 11am the next day and expect that to be reasonable in all circumstances.
⚠️ Notice does not mean permission
This is the most important point many tenants miss. Your landlord giving you 24 hours notice does not automatically give them the right to enter. You must also consent. You can refuse entry for non-urgent matters — though persistent refusal of reasonable access for repairs can have implications for your tenancy.
The One Exception: Genuine Emergencies
Your landlord may enter without notice only in a genuine emergency — a situation where immediate entry is necessary to prevent serious harm or damage. Examples include:
- A gas leak reported or detected
- A burst pipe flooding the property or the property below
- A fire or risk of fire
- A structural collapse or immediate danger to life
What does not count as an emergency:
- A dripping tap or minor leak
- A broken appliance that is not dangerous
- Wanting to check on the property because they haven't heard from you
- Collecting post
- "I was passing so I thought I'd pop in"
If your landlord uses the emergency exception for something that clearly was not an emergency, this is a breach of your rights regardless of how they frame it.
What Is Quiet Enjoyment?
The right to quiet enjoyment is a fundamental legal protection implied into every tenancy agreement in England and Wales. It means you have the right to occupy and use your home without interference from your landlord or anyone acting on their behalf.
Quiet enjoyment is breached not just by physical entry without permission, but also by:
- Repeatedly turning up unannounced even without entering
- Watching or surveilling the property
- Sending tradespeople without notice
- Repeated phone calls or messages designed to intimidate
- Entering when you have explicitly said no
Landlord Harassment: When It Becomes Criminal
Persistent entry without notice, combined with other behaviour designed to make you leave, can cross the line into landlord harassment — which is a criminal offence under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977.
Landlord harassment includes any act intended to cause you to give up occupation of your home or to refrain from exercising your rights as a tenant. Entering your home without permission repeatedly is one of the clearest examples of this.
✓ Criminal penalties for harassment
A landlord convicted of harassment under the Protection from Eviction Act 1977 faces an unlimited fine and up to two years in prison. You can also claim civil damages. This is not a minor issue — take it seriously and document everything.
What to Do If Your Landlord Enters Without Notice
✓ Do this
- Write to your landlord immediately — email is fine, creates a paper trail
- State clearly that entry without 24 hours notice is a breach of your right to quiet enjoyment
- Keep a log of every unauthorised entry — date, time, what happened
- Change the locks if you own them — check your tenancy agreement first
- Report persistent harassment to your local council's housing team
- Contact Shelter or Citizens Advice if it continues
✗ Avoid this
- Don't ignore it — silence suggests you accept it
- Don't confront your landlord aggressively — keep it formal and in writing
- Don't withhold rent without legal advice — this can backfire badly
- Don't assume it will stop without a formal letter
Send a formal letter to your landlord today
Generate a written notice asserting your right to quiet enjoyment — built on UK legal templates, free, and ready to send.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landlord enter if they have a key?
Having a key does not give your landlord the right to enter without notice. The legal right to enter requires 24 hours written notice and your consent, regardless of who holds a key. Using a key to enter without your permission is a breach of your right to quiet enjoyment.
What if my tenancy agreement says the landlord can enter at any time?
Such a clause is likely unenforceable. Under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 and established case law, a clause that removes your fundamental right to quiet enjoyment may be deemed unfair and void. The statutory 24-hour notice requirement cannot be contracted out of.
Can I refuse my landlord entry for repairs?
You can refuse entry if proper notice has not been given. However, if your landlord has given correct notice for legitimate repairs, persistent refusal without good reason may be used against you — for example, if they later claim you prevented necessary maintenance. For urgent repairs, it is generally better to agree a reasonable time.
My landlord keeps coming round unannounced. What should I do first?
Send a written letter or email immediately, clearly stating that you require 24 hours written notice for all future visits and that any further entry without notice will be treated as a breach of your right to quiet enjoyment. Keep a copy. If it continues, contact your local council's private rented sector team — they have enforcement powers.
Does the 24-hour notice rule apply in Scotland?
Scotland has its own tenancy legislation under the Private Housing (Tenancies) (Scotland) Act 2016, but the principle is similar — landlords must give reasonable notice before entry. The specific rules differ slightly so check with Shelter Scotland for Scottish-specific guidance.