Can a Tenant Stay at Home While a Landlord Shows the Rental Property to Buyers
A California landlord has told the tenant that he is going to sell the rental property, and that there will be showings. Does the tenant have to leave the property when the landlord shows the property? Does the Tenant have to crate or remove his dog? Does the tenant have to clean the unit before showings?
Re: Can a Tenant Stay at Home While a Landlord Shows the Rental Property to Buyers
The only statutory guidance is Civil Code, Sec. 1954(a)(2), which gives the landlord the right to enter to "exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers", with entry normally being limited to regular business hours with reasonable advance notice (usually at least 24 hours). That law does not require that the tenant clean, leave the premises, crate a dog, or do anything else to accommodate the showing, other than let it occur -- but the tenant may have agreed to additional measures in the lease agreement, so the tenant should check the lease.
Also, if the dog might be frightened by a showing or might act aggressively, it would be sensible for the tenant to take appropriate measures -- as a matter of respect for the animal, as a matter of safety, or both.