This land is my land...this land is NOT your land!

I'm dealing with a difficult tenant that enjoys fighting me about everything. Their behavior is so odd that I can't help but conclude they are certifiably insane. That said, we ran into a problem yesterday that provided some fodder for my blog, so all is not lost!

Because of some problems we've had with them, the owner and I wanted to inspect their rental property to ensure it's being maintained. The owner called them directly (long story) and explained we would be arriving four days later. We invited them to meet with us so we could walk through together and discuss any problems found. We also wanted to talk to them about their behavior and whether we would be willing to renew the lease in a few months.

Two days after scheduling the meeting and walk-through, the tenants texted the owner and told him they would not be attending. No problem! They are so difficult to speak with that their absence was a welcome reprieve.

That morning, the owner decided to go to the property alone before meeting with me. When he pulled into the property, one of the tenants came off the porch and started screaming at him! She accused him of trespassing (on his own land?) and said he has no right to be on the property because they pay rent and are the sole legal occupants. Huh???

There's much more to it, but I'll focus on this one bit. Our lease agreement clearly states that we (Owner and Property Manager) have legal access to the property at any time during the term of their lease as long as we meet two conditions:

1. Provide a minimum of 24 hours notice
2. Provide the reason for our visit

We met both conditions by notifying the tenants four days in advance and by telling them that it was a routine inspection to ensure they are caring for the property after 8 months of occupancy. The same clause gives me permission to place a "For Rent" sign on the property during the last 30 days of any lease AND to schedule showings with 24 hours notice.

Our lease is clear and I reminded the tenants of their obligations. How will they respond? They will fight me. They will refuse to allow access or attempt to harass me. Which means I will be scheduling my next visit with a written notice that includes a statement that I will complete the inspection with a witness and a video camera!

What about you? Have you experienced a situation where a Landlord or Property Manager intrudes without proper notice? Do you have a tenant that refuses to let you inspect or handle routine maintenance? We'd love to hear your story!