Showing a rental unit while the current tenant still lives there
A landlord can usually show an occupied unit to prospective tenants after the current tenant gives notice or the lease is ending, but only with proper advance notice, at reasonable times, and within what the lease and state law allow. In California and Florida the notice is generally 24 hours. The tenant cannot unreasonably refuse, and you cannot enter at will.
Do you have the right to show an occupied unit?
Most states let a landlord enter a rented home with notice for specific reasons, and showing it to prospective tenants is commonly one of them near the end of a tenancy. Florida's statute, section 83.53(1), says the tenant may not unreasonably refuse entry to exhibit the unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, tenants, workers or contractors, and section 83.53(2) requires at least 24 hours' notice and entry between 7:30 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. for repairs (see the statute). California Civil Code section 1954 also allows entry to show the unit to prospective tenants with advance written notice, which is presumed reasonable at 24 hours, and has its own rules for oral notice (see the code). Other states differ, and some set no number at all, so look up yours.
Your lease may add rules, such as showings only after notice to vacate has been given or a limit on how many a week. Follow what it says.
When to start showing
- After the tenant gives notice to leave: the clearest case.
- After you have sent a non-renewal notice or the tenant has said they will not renew.
- Not before. Showing a home to strangers while a tenant is renewing, or with no notice from either side, invites a complaint about privacy and quiet enjoyment.
For the advertising side, see advertising before the tenant moves out.
How to schedule showings with a tenant in place
- Send written notice that names the day, a time window and the purpose, using your state's required wording and delivery method. Keep a copy.
- Offer the tenant a say in the times. Evenings or weekends that suit them cause the least trouble.
- Bunch showings. Two or three back to back on one day disturb the tenant less than one a day all week.
- Tell the tenant who is coming, such as you or a named person, and how long it will take.
- Ask the tenant to put pets away and to clear the main rooms, and say you will lock up after.
- Send a reminder the day before. See confirmation and reminder wording.
If the tenant refuses or makes it hard
Reasonable objections, such as a time when they are working nights or have a sick child, should be met by moving the time. A pattern of refusing every slot, or leaving the home so messy that photos and showings are not possible, is a lease issue to put in writing. Do not enter without proper notice, change the locks or cut utilities. Those are the quickest ways to lose a dispute. If the tenant keeps refusing, send a written reminder of the lease and state rules and, if needed, ask a local landlord-tenant lawyer.
Photos and videos of an occupied home
Do not photograph the tenant's belongings, papers or family without their agreement. Photograph the unit after move-out, or use clear photos from before the tenant moved in. If you must use occupied photos, ask the tenant first and crop out personal items. See honest listing photos.
How DoorKeeping handles it
Every published DoorKeeping listing page has a Schedule a showing form. A request comes to you by email and is saved on your Listings screen, so you can group requests into one block of time. Ask Claude or ChatGPT, connected to DoorKeeping, which requests are still waiting on your reply. You write and send the notice and the confirmation, and you choose the slot. DoorKeeping gives no legal advice about entry notice in your state. See the connect page.
Sources
- Florida Statutes section 83.53, Landlord's access to dwelling unit, read Oct 31, 2026
- California Civil Code section 1954, read Oct 31, 2026
- DoorKeeping: Connect Claude or ChatGPT (steps and tools list), read Oct 31, 2026
Questions
- Can a landlord show an apartment while the tenant is still living there?
- Usually yes, with proper notice and at reasonable times, once the tenancy is ending. Check your lease and your state's entry law.
- How much notice must a landlord give to show a unit?
- Many states use 24 hours, as in Florida and California. Some states set a different number or only require reasonable notice.
- Can the tenant refuse showings?
- Not unreasonably. They can ask to move a time, but cannot block showings altogether where the law allows them.