Can LL bring potential renters through my apt if I'm not moving out?

[godpuncher]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Michigan

I just moved into a new place less than a week ago. It's a duplex, and the people in the other unit are moving out soon. The property manger wants to show renters MY unit, reason being, "I haven't been to the other unit in years and I don't know what kind of condition it's in." So, she's essentially using mynunit as a "show" unit. She gave me 6 hours notice about this. I agreed to it this time, since I'll be home, anyway, but it's very annoying that I have to let total strangers into my home less than a week after moving in. The lease has standard language about landlord access to premises, something like "tenent agrees to alow LL access to property within reasonable business hours. Prior written notice will be given except for emergencies." So I know I could have technically refused, but then I'm just irritating the LL a week into my lease. which is why I agreed to it, but I'm afraid this won't be the only time. What advice would you give here?

Thanks!

 

[xylene]

Your landlord is a deceptive scumbag, and you should push back on this.

 

[Zigner]

Your landlord is a deceptive scumbag, and you should push back on this.

How is the LL deceptive? The LL isn't claiming that the OP's unit is the one that the new folks will be renting. I guess you don't like the idea of new housing developments showing a "model home" to prospective buyers, right?

 

[godpuncher]

I guess I'm just wondering if I can legally refuse future requests like this? They seem unnecessary. It's not for repairs because they need to rent the unit I'm in. They're just using the effort I put into cleaning the place for their own benefit.

 

[adjusterjack]

I guess I'm just wondering if I can legally refuse future requests like this?

You can do whatever you want.

But, as I told you on another site, if you don't refuse this one you'd be hard pressed to refuse future requests because you'll have already accepted this kind of request as reasonable by consenting to it.

Your choice is to be a doormat to your LL or hold him to a higher standard.

 

[godpuncher]

You can do whatever you want.

But, as I told you on another site, if you don't refuse this one you'd be hard pressed to refuse future requests because you'll have already accepted this kind of request as reasonable by consenting to it.

Your choice is to be a doormat to your LL or hold him to a higher standard.

It wasn't necessary to give the exact same answer on two different sites, you know.
Anyway, allowing something once doesn't mean it sets a legal precedent. My flexibility on one occasion doesn't negate the law.

 

[adjusterjack]

It wasn't necessary to give the exact same answer on two different sites, you know.
Anyway, allowing something once doesn't mean it sets a legal precedent. My flexibility on one occasion doesn't negate the law.

The Michigan landlord tenant statutes don't appear to address the landlord's right of entry. You should read them yourself.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(hbzvo35nymv3gaskjv0f3xkz))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-R-S-1846-554-131-66-GENERAL-PROVISIONS.

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(nno53bbciqw5qg05cxk0ewdi))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-Act-348-of-1972

http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(g0dynk5iyp0zl51oscac4xav))/mileg.aspx?page=getObject&objectName=mcl-Act-454-of-1978

So there is no law to negate.

You go to your lease. If what you quote was word for word then the LL has every right to show your unit to anybody during reasonable business hours with prior written notice.

"tenent agrees to alow LL access to property within reasonable business hours. Prior written notice will be given except for emergencies."

"Prior written notice" could mean that the LL comes to your door and hands you a paper saying "I'll be back in 10 minutes with somebody to look at your unit."

With ambiguity like that, you do set a precedent if you allow it this time. In other words, blink now and you'll be the one to blink next time and the time after that.

Up to you what you want to do.

 

[xylene]

How is the LL deceptive? The LL isn't claiming that the OP's unit is the one that the new folks will be renting. I guess you don't like the idea of new housing developments showing a "model home" to prospective buyers, right?

The landlord is not showing a model home, he is showing the cleaner/fresher of 2 units, instead of the one actually soon to be vacant.

That's deceptive. That's like renting A Car To Take Someone For a test Drive When You Are Selling Your car.

 

[Zigner]

The landlord is not showing a model home, he is showing the cleaner/fresher of 2 units, instead of the one actually soon to be vacant.

That's deceptive. That's like renting A Car To Take Someone For a test Drive When You Are Selling Your car.

Perhaps the LL told the prospective tenants that they unit they'd occupy is not available yet, but it looks just like this one. No deception. In fact, I think it's pretty safe to say that it's exactly what the LL told the prospective tenants.

You're making an unfounded assumption based on your own biases without proof that your assumption is even close to the reality of the situation.

ETA: It's more like taking someone in a test drive of a car that's just like yours, while telling them that yours is not in the shop, so you can't actually show it to them, you can only show them this one that's the same model.

 

[xylene]

Perhaps the LL told the prospective tenants that they unit they'd occupy is not available yet, but it looks just like this one. No deception. In fact, I think it's pretty safe to say that it's exactly what the LL told the prospective tenants.

The deception is showing the more recently renovated and cleaned (and equally occupied) unit.

 

[Zigner]

The deception is showing the more recently renovated and cleaned (and equally occupied) unit.

How is that deception? I really don't know where you're coming from. How do you know that the unit that is coming available won't be in the same (or better) condition than the unit that is being shown?

 

[FarmerJ]

I cant help but wonder if the landlord is planning on trying to get someone to sign a lease with the intent of trying to install a new tenant/ have a paid for lease before actual work is done on the other unit ? which is a crappy way to do business As most here know its a much better practice for a landlord to wait to show a unit AFTER clean ups /repairs/ new paint / new carpet are all complete so that a applicant can be all excited and impressed at how nice a place is. So GP have you considered going next door and introducing your self with a pot of coffee and a treat so you can also see for your self what condition that unit is in and also ask that tenant questions about the landlord so you will be better able to address your own concerns like when repairs come up.

 

[LdiJ]

How is that deception? I really don't know where you're coming from. How do you know that the unit that is coming available won't be in the same (or better) condition than the unit that is being shown?

Because then the landlord would be showing THAT unit since is the actual one that is going to be available.

 

[Zigner]

The landlord is showing the unit as an EXAMPLE. The LL is not representing that he's showing THE unit and the prospectives tenants KNOW that it's not THE unit. There is NO deception involved. Why is this such a hard concept to understand?