Renting and Privacy
Before you sign a lease or tenancy agreement ask the tenants and/or previous tenants about the landlord. If they tell you he is always coming in and out of the place for small, trivial things and this is something you are bothered by, don’t waste your time.
In most areas landlords are allowed to enter a property in case of emergency or make repairs. Landlords are generally allowed entry (with notice) for making needed but not emergency repairs, and also in order to show the property to prospective buyers or tenants. Landlords who suspect you've left the property for good may also legally enter.
Your landlord is permitted by law to have keys to your home. There is nothing you can do about this.
In the lease or agreement, ask for 24 hour notice for any repairs and/or improvements. This is not an unreasonable request. Make sure, though, that it is in writing and that you both initial this amendment to the lease.
If the landlord informs you that they inspect the apartment regularly, be sure it is in writing and that you are given notice. Record when these visits occur.
Inform your landlord in writing if he is violating the clauses you both set in place when you signed the lease. If he continues to enter the property without notice for trivial reasons document it and write to him. Keep copies of all documentation. Ask him to refrain from doing this. If he persists, notify him that you will sue for invasion of privacy. If you do this, be prepared to back it up.
Although you may be very upset at an invasion of privacy, remember that, in practice, you are generally subject to the whims of landlords. It doesn’t make sense to continually give a landlord a hard time unless you have another place to go to if evicted or if you decide to sue. If things get really bad, opt to move your stuff into storage and just terminate the lease when it is due.
If you are new to a place don’t sign more than a yearly lease. Until you know how you feel about the landlord you don’t want to commit yourself to a year of unwanted visits.