Right of (new) landlord to visit unit

I would hate to have you as a landlord. I don't think you have the right to go in and just check it out. You really need to read the lease to see if it states that you can.

Agree w houser

What lease did you use? It would depend on the wording in the document. Usually for the most part you cannot just visit your condo. If you were to ask the tenant that you would like to drop by to see what they have done to the unit, that would be fine if they give you an OK.

That is just wrong. It's like a car salesman leasing a car to you and then a month later getting a call from him saying he would like your permission to test drive the leased car to see how your taking care of it since it really belongs to his dealership and not you.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

To put it more bluntly, you have no business being in this business. I hope they leave bed bugs in "your" condo after the lease expires.

And, one more thing, they are living their lives there and making it there home for the next two years. It will have wear and tear. It's not like they are paying you thousands of dollars of month of their hard earned money so that the apartment can't be used!

generally my experience has generally been only with permissoin from the tenant. i have had this both as a tenant(i generally say no) and owner. for your benefit and theirs. one they dont want you imposing all the time and second you dont want to see the mass orgies going on in your investment

Good gosh. People have a way of making the simple complicated. Read the lease. Most Blumberg form leases permit the landlord to inspect upon reasonable notice. A call ahead with a request to check because of it being new construction and the need to be certain nothing needs adjusting (faucets, finishes that have come loose after a month, grouting that is turning to dust) is reasonable. I'd explain this is a brief inspection you'd like to do (certainly 1x/6 months is reasonable, maybe even a 30-day, 90-day, and then every 6 months thereafter if that is what you need to feel okay). Be completely flexible as to timing, and see what the tenant says. Worst they can say is they don't agree. If the lease says otherwise, just point that out and emphasize the minimum intrusion. Leave a bottle of nice wine, or small "thank you" gift from Molton Brown or something with a note apologizing for any inconvenience. No reason that can't be completely amicable and non-alienating.

The lease governs, legally. If you can go it on the terms Kyle discusses, then you can. Check anyway the terms, there are two typical NYC condo leases - one by Blumberg and one by REBNY. But, once you start going to the literal terms of a boilerplate non-negotiated contract, you are asking to be dealt with according to the literal terms, and so be prepared for the tenants to start treating you under the literal terms as well. A lease involves an ongoing, trusting relationship, 2 years in this case. Entering the apartment could destroy the civil, friendly relationship, and a Molton Brown gift (what a p*ssy) isn't going to change the tone of "I don't trust you so I have to go and see what you are doing to my new apartment."

Wow...I can't believe all the negativity over a landlord wanting to visit his apartment. My experience in rental buildings are far different; the enter as needed with reasonable notice. Read the lease. As Kyle noted, I believe the landlord is allow to inspect with reasonable notice. I don't think it is such a big deal; just call the tenant.

My experience has been that it's perfectly all right to visit at least once a year or so just to check up on mechanicals, see if there has been any damage, and so on. Most leases have language to this effect.

I have never gone into a property without asking the tenant if it's okay first, and none has ever refused. Our current tenant is wonderful, but we do try to visit the apartment at least once a year, and the tenant does not seem to mind at all. We keep our visits short, and we arrange them so that she can be there.

When you are fair and decent with people, uesowner's experience is the common one. When I've had tenants (admittedly outside NYC) my experience was the same as uesowner. This just really shouldn't be a major deal or at all adversarial.

tokyotim, one trick i have used is to have my property manager say that he must check the cardon monoxide alarm..or install a new one. then have him arrive with one, swap it out and say thank you. but call, make an app't..be polite.