Landlord Inspection Notice Requirements and Harassment Concerns
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed January 25, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
My landlord is trying to do an inspection today. I can't accommodate it — I'm busy, and I don't want him in my house alone, because he has a long documented history with the city of locking people out and taking things. I had the city inspector serve him for repairs, and now he wants to inspect himself. I consider this harassment. I tried to reschedule the appointment, which I have a legal right to do, but he blocked my number, and when I contacted him through a third party he blocked that number too.
Attorney Answer
The 48 hours' notice you received meets Washington's legal minimum, but you still have the right to request a different time when "today" doesn't work — and your landlord's refusal to reschedule, combined with blocking your calls and a third party's, can support a complaint to the state's Landlord-Tenant program or a court action.
Under RCW 59.18.150, a landlord must give at least two days' written notice before entering to inspect or make repairs, except in an emergency, and may only enter at reasonable times — 48 hours meets that minimum, but "reasonable" also supports asking for a different specific time that works for both of you. Separately, because you involved city code enforcement to force repairs, RCW 59.18.240 prohibits a landlord from taking or threatening retaliatory action against a tenant for exercising legally protected rights, including reporting code violations to a government authority. A pattern of refusing to reschedule and cutting off communication right after you reported violations could fit that protection.
What you can do:
1. Start a written log now of every entry attempt, blocked-call, and related incident, with dates, times, and screenshots.
2. Send one more written request (text or email) proposing a specific alternate time, creating a record of your effort to reschedule.
3. Contact the Washington Attorney General's Landlord-Tenant program to report the notice dispute and possible retaliation.
4. Consult a local tenant-rights attorney about small-claims or injunctive options if the landlord continues.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How much notice must a landlord give before entering a rental unit?
Many states require at least 24 to 48 hours' written notice before a landlord may enter to inspect or make repairs, except in emergencies.
Can a tenant ask to reschedule a landlord's entry?
Generally yes — even when notice meets the legal minimum, tenants can request a different reasonable time, and landlords are generally expected to act reasonably about entry timing.
What protects a tenant from retaliation after reporting code violations?
Many states prohibit landlords from taking adverse action against a tenant for reporting code violations to a government authority, and a pattern following such a report may support a complaint.
