Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in North Carolina

Our renter had paid rent through the end of the month. We only have verbal agreement -not a lease. He told us around the 9th of the month that he was moving out the end of the month. He later called us and informed us that he was moving out and was having the electricity turned off on the 24th of the month and we would need to take over the electricity. My husband found new renters. So we had an option to either put the electricity in our name for one week and then they would take it over or let them put it in their name. Now the renter says he has the right to come and go on the property and use the electricity (which he had taken out of his name) until the 31st of the month, even though he is not sleeping there, he has already moved into his new rental house. Also he pulled wire out of the ground that went to a building that we allowed him to put on the property, but the wire was attached to the breaker on the power pole. When he moved there, we had 4 stepping stones in the front to walk on, he added 3 more stones, he and his girlfriend dug up the stones and took them with them. What are our rights and what are his rights?


Asked on 7/25/15, 7:38 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Kenneth Love Ken Love Law

This is an interesting situation. I will cover the issues that I saw separately.

He does have the right to enter the home until the end of the month...BUT he is required to keep utilities on until he vacates. You should put this in writing to him ASAP.

He is allowed to take anything with him that does not cause damage. If he dug up wire and stepping stones and he did not fix the damage they caused to the lawn, you can pay to get it fixed and use his security deposit to do so.

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Answered on 7/25/15, 10:20 pm


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