In Virginia, a landlord’s right to access is governed by the Virginia Residential Landlord and Tenant Act. While you have a right to privacy, the landlord can enter without your immediate consent if they follow specific notice rules.
Notice Requirements
For non-emergencies (inspections or maintenance), the landlord must:
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Provide at least 72 hours’ notice for routine maintenance that you did not request.
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For other legitimate purposes (like inspections or showing the unit), they must provide reasonable notice (typically interpreted as 24 to 72 hours depending on the lease).
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Enter only at reasonable times.
When Permission is NOT Required
A landlord may enter without your consent or advance notice only in these cases:
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Emergencies: To prevent immediate damage to life or property (e.g., fire, flood, or gas leak).
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Tenant Requests: If you formally request maintenance or repairs, the landlord is not required to provide a notice period before entering to perform that work.
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Impracticability: If it is genuinely impossible to provide notice under the circumstances.
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Abandonment: If the landlord has a reasonable belief that you have abandoned or surrendered the property.
The information for this answer was found on our Virginia Landlord Tenant Rights answers.