California law states that a landlord can enter a rental unit only for the following reasons:
- * In an emergency.
* When the tenant has moved out or has abandoned the rental unit.
* To make necessary or agreed-upon repairs, decorations, alterations, or other improvements.
* To show the rental unit to prospective tenants, purchasers, or lenders, to provide entry to contractors or workers who are to perform work on the unit, or to conduct an initial inspection before the end of the tenancy (see Initial Inspection sidebar).
* If a court order permits the landlord to enter.
* If the tenant has a waterbed, to inspect the installation of the waterbed when the installation has been completed, and periodically after that to assure that the installation meets the law's requirements.
The landlord or the landlord's agent must give the tenant reasonable advance notice in writing before entering the unit, and can enter only during normal business hours (generally, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekdays). The notice must state the date, approximate time and purpose of enter. However, advance written notice is not required under any of the following circumstances:
- * To respond to an emergency.
* The tenant has moved out or has abandoned the rental unit.
* The tenant is present and consents to the entry at the time of entry.
* The tenant and landlord have agreed that the landlord will make repairs or supply services, and have agreed orally that the landlord may enter to make the repairs or supply the services. The agreement must include the date and approximate time of entry, which must be within one week of the oral agreement.
The landlord or agent may use any one of the following methods to give the tenant written notice of intent to enter the unit. The landlord or agent may:
- * Personally deliver the notice to the tenant; or
* Leave the notice at the rental unit with a person of suitable age and discretion (for example, a roommate or a teenage member of the tenant's household); or
* Leave the notice on, near or under the unit's usual entry door in such a way that it is likely to be found; or
* Mail the notice to the tenant.
The law considers 24 hours' advance written notice to be reasonable in most situations.
If the notice is mailed to the tenant, mailing at least six days before the intended entry is presumed to be reasonable, in most situations. The tenant can consent to shorter notice and to entry at times other than during normal business hours.