2020 New Mexico Statutes
Chapter 47 - Property Law
Article 8 - Owner-Resident Relations
Section 47-8-24 - Right of entry.
A. The resident shall, in accordance with provisions of the rental agreement and notice provisions as provided in this section, consent to the owner to enter into the dwelling unit in order to inspect the premises, make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations or improvements, supply necessary or agreed services or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, prospective residents, workmen or contractors; provided that:
(1) unless otherwise agreed upon by the owner and resident, the owner may enter the resident's dwelling unit pursuant to this subsection only after giving the resident twenty-four hours written notification of his intent to enter, the purpose for entry and the date and reasonable estimate of the time frame of the entry;
(2) this subsection is not applicable to entry by the owner to perform repairs or services within seven days of a request by the resident or when the owner is accompanied by a public official conducting an inspection or a cable television, electric, gas or telephone company representative; and
(3) where the resident gives reasonable prior notice and alternate times or dates for entry and it is practicable or will not result in economic detriment to the owner, then the owner shall attempt to reasonably accommodate the alternate time of entry.
B. The owner may enter the dwelling unit without consent of the resident in case of an emergency.
C. The owner shall not abuse the right of access.
D. The owner has no other right of access except by court order, as permitted by this section if the resident has abandoned or surrendered the premises or if the resident has been absent from the premises more than seven days, as permitted in Section 47-8-34 NMSA 1978.
E. If the resident refuses to allow lawful access, the owner may obtain injunctive relief to compel access or terminate the rental agreement. In either case, the owner may recover damages.
F. If the owner makes an unlawful entry, or a lawful entry in an unreasonable manner, or makes repeated demands for entry that are otherwise lawful but that have the effect of unreasonably interfering with the resident's quiet enjoyment of the dwelling unit, the resident may obtain injunctive relief to prevent the recurrence of the conduct or terminate the rental agreement. In either case, the resident may recover damages.
History: 1953 Comp., § 70-7-24, enacted by Laws 1975, ch. 38, § 24; 1995, ch. 195, § 10.
ANNOTATIONSThe 1995 amendment, effective July 1, 1995, in Subsection A, inserted "and notice provisions as provided in this section" near the beginning, substituted "; provided that:" for a period at the end of the introductory paragraph, added Paragraphs (1) to (3); in Subsection D, added "or if the resident has been absent from the premises more than seven days, as permitted in Section 47-8-34 NMSA 1978" at the end and made minor stylistic changes; and added Subsections E and F.
Law reviews. — For survey, "The Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act," see 6 N.M.L. Rev. 293 (1976).
Am. Jur. 2d, A.L.R. and C.J.S. references. — 51C C.J.S. Landlord and Tenant § 318.
