OHIO...
I live in Zanesville, Ohio in an income based apartmet complex with many rental units and recently I received a notice that there was too be an inspection of electrical outlets, which is fine, and the letter said this was my official 48 hours notice (was actually given a week in advance) but it lists 5 possible days of entry. To be a bit clearer, the gave proper notice plus some, but the range of entry that they are giving is 5 days, they can enter my unit ANY GIVEN DAY between october 11th, 12, 14, 14 and 15. This just doesnt seem right to me. If I dont answer the knock at the door in the morning, they will come in. I had this problem before when the exterminators were coming, and did not hear them knocking and next thing I know, some 6'5 man is standing at my bedroom door saying "ma'am...ma'am I'm here for extermination."
This scared the crap out of me and now I know they are coming again, I am having and will be having a very hard time sleeping for the next 5 days, not knowing if someone is going to enter my unit or not. So ther question I have is this...I know Ohio laws require 24 hours notice for reasonable entry, but what are the/ are there any stipulations for how long that advance notice is good? Who is to say that they won't give me 24 hours notice that they will enter my unit one day in the next 6 months???!

The notice provided by your landlord seems appropriate. If you have a chain on the door of the apartment, I'd leave it on while you're in there. That way, if you don't hear them knocking, they won't be able to get in.

Yes they did provide enough notice (seems appropriate) but the thing I was getting at is once notice is provided, how long of an open invitation does that give them, can they give me a 48 hour notice and tell me that the will be coming one day THIS YEAR?! One day this MONTH? One day this WEEK? There surely must be some guidelines as to what the notice covers, otherwise, a landlord might give a 48 hour notice that lasts indefinately!

Telling you that they will come in one day in a year is unreasonable and no landlord would do that. Telling you what they did -- that inspections will take place during the week of October 11th -- is not unreasonable.

I'm looking for guidelines, not personal opinions. A link to something specific wwould be of use. Thanks alot:)

They have given clear, per your post, dates on which they may enter your unit. If they give you 48 hours notice with no actual date of entry then you are to assume the third day they will enter. I have lived in the same complex for 10 years and they state the day they will enter no matter how early they give you the notice.

If they gave me a notice October 15 the notice could say November 12th we will be entering. They must specify the day. It is not an open invitation. The minimum they can make you aware is 48 hours...any complex I have ever seen usually grants you a little more time than that. I think it is irriatating you that they are entering and so you may be overthinking this a bit. I hope you do not lose any sleep and the chain on the door is a great idea... :) :D

Sounds like public housing and it also sounds like they are complying with the law, so maybe you need to try to relocate and get different living arrangements

Yeah um, I'm trying to find out WHAT THE LAW IS, thats why I posted.

They have given clear, per your post, dates on which they may enter your unit. If they give you 48 hours notice with no actual date of entry then you are to assume the third day they will enter. I have lived in the same complex for 10 years and they state the day they will enter no matter how early they give you the notice.

If they gave me a notice October 15 the notice could say November 12th we will be entering. They must specify the day. It is not an open invitation. The minimum they can make you aware is 48 hours...any complex I have ever seen usually grants you a little more time than that. I think it is irriatating you that they are entering and so you may be overthinking this a bit. I hope you do not lose any sleep and the chain on the door is a great idea... :) :D


Actually state law minimum in Ohio is 24 hours notice, not 48, they did the right thing by giving me the proper notice, but how long is a posted notice good for. You cant just give notice that you will be entering and then come in whenever you want. This is no bog thing and by now the inspection is over with, but it sparked some curiousity and I would like to know how far beyond the entry, the law actually specifies. If anyone actually knows, I would be very interested to know how much clarity the lawmakers have put on this one specific interest and please back it w/ a source so I know its legitimate and not an opinion. Thanks alot folks! :)

Sorry to tell you this, but in the absence of anything in the statutes to the contrary, it does become a matter of opinion. There is nothing in the code that says how long notice lasts, so if you were to complain about the notice lasting for a week, any complaint you might make (to your landlord, to a court, to whomever) would be a judgement call on behalf of the person to whom you are complaining. One week would not unreasonable. One year, which you've repeatedly asked about, is.

Below is a link to:
CALIFORNIA CODES
CIVIL CODE
SECTION 1954

The paragraph of interest is also below.

The notification shall include the "date", not "dates". The notice shall include the "time" not the range of "possible times".

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/waisgate?WAISdocID=90780617761+2+0+0&WAISaction=retrieve

(d) (1) Except as provided in subdivision (e), or as provided in
paragraph (2) or (3), the landlord shall give the tenant reasonable
notice in writing of his or her intent to enter and enter only during
normal business hours. The notice shall include the date,
approximate time, and purpose of the entry.

Considering the original post was over a year old, I would imagine that the situation has resolved itself by now.

You are so right!:eek: