When tenants won't let Realtors in???

[Joe Chirdon]

Situation: I'm a Realtor. My client owns a property in Steelton Pennsylvania that he needs to sell. Two of the tenants have changed the locks and will not let potential buyers in (they pay their rents). The owner says they are hoarders. The owner's leases are DIY one-page agreements that don't have the 24 hour notice for access clause. I suggested that if he can't get keys and they refuse to let anyone in, his only option would be to evict them. The owner claims he spoke with a district justice who said there is no cause of action for an eviction. I'd love to hear your thoughts on the best way to get these two tenants to cooperate and/or get out. 

[Matt Devincenzo]

Not having the notice to access clause, doesn't mean that there is no allowance for notice to access. State codes will establish what a legal access may look like, and probably provides for 24 hour notice to access. So I'd start there. I also wouldn't listen to what a client told me a possible judge might have said...call an eviction type attorney and ask him what you can do to gain access. My guess is the failure to allow 24 hour access can go to court, that judge can force access (if not the eviction), and when they fail to comply with the court ordered access then you could evict. 

The devil is in the details, but based on your description I think you still have some relatively straightforward options to pursue to initial access.