Index
North Carolina Retaliatory Eviction Protections
Summary
In North Carolina, a landlord cannot evict you simply because you asked for repairs or complained to a government agency about housing code violations.
Rights & Rules
- 01.A landlord cannot evict you, refuse to renew your lease, or raise your rent in retaliation for exercising your legal rights.
- 02.Protected acts include complaining to the landlord about unsafe conditions, calling a building inspector, or joining a tenants' union.
- 03.If a landlord tries to evict you within 12 months of you doing one of these protected acts, the court will presume it is retaliation unless the landlord proves otherwise.
- 04.You MUST still pay your rent; you are not protected from eviction if you stop paying rent, even if the landlord is ignoring repairs.
Penalties
- 01.If you prove retaliation in court, the judge will dismiss the eviction lawsuit, allowing you to stay in your home.
Verified Citations
North Carolina General Statutes Section 42-37.1
Source"It is the public policy of the State of North Carolina to protect tenants and other persons whose residence in the household is explicitly or implicitly known to the landlord, who seek to exercise their rights to decent, safe, and sanitary housing..."