Includes index.

Chapter 1 Laws That Govern Rental Property 5 -- North Carolina Landlord/Tenant Law -- Which North Carolina Laws Apply? -- Applicability of Chapter 42 -- Local Laws -- Federal Laws -- Doing Further Research -- Good Faith Obligation -- Fictitious Names -- Chapter 2 Creating the Landlord/Tenant Relationship 13 -- Screening Prospective Tenants -- Discrimination -- Agreements to Lease -- Leases and Rental Agreements -- Problem Clauses -- Options -- Forms -- Signatures -- Backing Out of a Lease -- Chapter 3 Handling Security Deposits 27 -- Amount -- Bank Account -- Notice -- Permitted Uses of the Deposit -- Landlord's Obligation at End of Rental Term -- Special Rules -- Chapter 4 Responsibility for Maintenance 33 -- Nonresidential Rentals -- Residential Apartments -- Code Violations -- Warranty of Habitability -- Tenant's Responsibilities -- Chapter 5 Landlord Liability 37 -- Injuries on the Premises -- Landlord's Warranty of Habitability -- Protection from Liability for Injuries -- Crimes against Tenants -- Protection from Liability for Crimes -- Crimes by Tenants against Nontenants -- Chapter 6 Changing the Terms of the Tenancy 43 -- Assignment or Sublease by Tenant -- Sale of Property by Landlord -- Raising the Rent -- Modifying the Lease -- Chapter 7 Problems During the Tenancy 47 -- Landlord's Access to the Premises -- Violations by the Tenant -- Violations by the Landlord -- Destruction of the Premises -- Chapter 8 Problems at the End of the Tenancy 53 -- Tenant Holding Over -- Property Abandoned by Tenant -- Chapter 9 Terminating a Tenancy 57 -- Tenancies with No Specific Term -- Expiration of Rental Term -- Employment Rentals -- Military Rentals -- Early Termination by Tenant -- Early Termination by Landlord -- Special Rules for Public Housing -- Death of Tenant -- Options to Cancel -- Chapter 10 Evicting a Tenant 67 -- Self-Help by Landlord -- Surrender or Abandonment -- Settling with the Tenant -- Grounds for Eviction -- Terminating the Tenancy -- Using an Attorney -- Who Can Sue? -- Court Procedures -- Money Damages and Back Rent -- Tenant's Possible Defenses -- Tenant's Possible Countersuits -- Abandonment after Dismissal -- Tenant's Appeal -- Tenant's Bankruptcy -- Landlord's Appeal -- Satisfaction of Judgment -- Chapter 11 Money Damages and Back Rent 85 -- Making a Claim -- Amount -- Hearings -- Defenses -- Liens -- Distress for Rent and Replevin -- Chapter 12 Self Service Storage Space 89 -- Applicability -- Withholding Access -- Liens -- Appendix A North Carolina Statutes 93 -- Appendix B Eviction Flowcharts and Legal Holidays 111 -- Appendix C Forms 115.