Article 1.
Vacation Rentals.
§ 42A-1. Title.
This Chapter shall be known as the North Carolina Vacation Rental Act. (1999-420, s. 1.)
§ 42A-2. Purpose and scope of act.
The General Assembly finds that the growth of the tourism industry in North Carolina has led to a greatly expanded market of privately owned residences that are rented to tourists for vacation, leisure, and recreational purposes. Rental transactions conducted by the owners of these residences or licensed real estate brokers acting on their behalf present unique situations not normally found in the rental of primary residences for long terms, and therefore make it necessary for the General Assembly to enact laws regulating the competing interests of landlords, real estate brokers, and tenants. (1999-420, s. 1.)
§ 42A-3. Application; exemptions.
(a) This Chapter applies to any person, partnership, corporation, limited liability company, association, or other business entity that acts as a landlord or real estate broker engaged in the rental or management of residential property for vacation rental as defined in this Chapter. G.S. 160D-1117 applies to properties covered under this Chapter.
(b) This Chapter does not apply to any of the following:
(1) Lodging provided by hotels, motels, tourist camps, and other places subject to regulation under Chapter 72 of the General Statutes.
(2) Rentals to persons temporarily renting a dwelling unit when traveling away from their primary residence for business or employment purposes.
(3) Rentals to persons having no other place of primary residence.
(4) Rentals for which no more than nominal consideration is given. (1999-420, s. 1; 2019-73, s. 1; 2022-62, s. 4.)
§ 42A-4. Definitions.
The following definitions apply in this Chapter:
(1) Advanced payments. - All payments made by a tenant in a vacation rental agreement to a landlord or the landlord's real estate broker prior to occupancy for the purpose of renting a vacation rental property for a future period of time as specified in the vacation rental agreement.
(1a) Landlord. - An owner of residential property offered for lease as a vacation rental with or without the assistance of a real estate broker.
(1b) through (1f) Reserved.
(1g) Real estate broker. - A real estate broker as defined in G.S. 93A-2(a).
(2) Residential property. - An apartment, condominium, single-family home, townhouse, cottage, or other property that is devoted to residential use or occupancy by one or more persons for a definite or indefinite period.
(3) Vacation rental. - The rental of residential property for vacation, leisure, or recreation purposes for fewer than 90 days by a person who has a place of permanent residence to which he or she intends to return.
(4) Vacation rental agreement. - A written agreement between a landlord or the landlord's real estate broker and a tenant in which the tenant agrees to rent residential property belonging to the landlord for a vacation rental. (1999-420, s. 1; 2016-98, s. 1.1; 2017-102, s. 13.1.)
§§ 42A-5 through 42A-9. Reserved for future codification purposes.
Vacation Rental Agreements.
§ 42A-10. Written agreement required.
(a) A landlord or real estate broker and tenant shall execute a vacation rental agreement for all vacation rentals subject to the provisions of this Chapter. No vacation rental agreement shall be valid and enforceable unless the tenant has accepted the agreement as evidenced by one of the following:
(1) The tenant's signature on the agreement.
(2) The tenant's payment of any monies to the landlord or real estate broker after the tenant's receipt of the agreement.
(3) The tenant's taking possession of the property after the tenant's receipt of the agreement.
(b) Any real estate broker who executes a vacation rental agreement that does not conform to the provisions of this Chapter or fails to execute a vacation rental agreement shall be guilty of an unfair trade practice in violation of G.S. 75-1.1, and shall be prohibited from commencing an expedited eviction proceeding as provided in Article 4 of this Chapter. (1999-420, s. 1.)
§ 42A-11. Vacation rental agreements.
(a) A vacation rental agreement executed under this Chapter shall contain the following notice on its face which shall be set forth in a clear and conspicuous manner that distinguishes it from other provisions of the agreement: "THIS IS A VACATION RENTAL AGREEMENT UNDER THE NORTH CAROLINA VACATION RENTAL ACT. THE RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS OF THE PARTIES TO THIS AGREEMENT ARE DEFINED BY LAW AND INCLUDE UNIQUE PROVISIONS PERMITTING THE DISBURSEMENT OF RENT PRIOR TO TENANCY AND EXPEDITED EVICTION OF TENANTS. YOUR SIGNATURE ON THIS AGREEMENT, OR PAYMENT OF MONEY OR TAKING POSSESSION OF THE PROPERTY AFTER RECEIPT OF THE AGREEMENT, IS EVIDENCE OF YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE AGREEMENT AND YOUR INTENT TO USE THIS PROPERTY FOR A VACATION RENTAL."
(b) The vacation rental agreement shall contain provisions separate from the requirements of subsection (a) of this section which shall describe the following as permitted or required by this Chapter:
(1) The manner in which funds shall be received, deposited, and disbursed in advance of the tenant's occupancy of the property.
(2) Any processing fees permitted under G.S. 42A-17(c).
(2a) Any cleaning fee permitted under G.S. 42A-17(d).
(3) The rights and obligations of the landlord and tenant under G.S. 42A-17(b).
(4) The applicability of expedited eviction procedures.
(5) The rights and obligations of the landlord or real estate broker and the tenant upon the transfer of the property.
(6) The rights and obligations of the landlord or real estate broker and the tenant under G.S. 42A-36.
(7) Any other obligations of the landlord and tenant. (1999-420, s. 1; 2012-17, s. 5.)
§§ 42A-12 through 42A-14. Reserved for future codification purposes.
Article 3.
Handling and Accounting of Funds.
§ 42A-15. Trust account uses.
A landlord or real estate broker may require a tenant to pay all or part of any required rent, security deposit, or other fees permitted by law in advance of the commencement of a tenancy under this Chapter if these payments are expressly authorized in the vacation rental agreement. If the tenant is required to make any advance payments, other than a security deposit, whether the payment is denominated as rent or otherwise, the landlord or real estate broker shall deposit these payments in a trust account in a federally insured depository institution or a trust institution authorized to do business in this State no later than three banking days after the receipt of these payments. These payments deposited in a trust account shall not earn interest unless the landlord and tenant agree in the vacation rental agreement that the payments may be deposited in an interest-bearing account. The landlord and tenant shall also provide in the agreement to whom the accrued interest shall be disbursed. (1999-420, s. 1; 2014-115, s. 3; 2015-93, s. 3; 2017-25, s. 2(b).)
§ 42A-16. Advance payments uses.
(a) A landlord or real estate broker shall not disburse prior to the occupancy of the property by the tenant an amount greater than fifty percent (50%) of the total rent except as permitted pursuant to this subsection. A landlord or real estate broker may disburse prior to the occupancy of the property by the tenant any fees owed to third parties to pay for goods, services, or benefits procured by the landlord or real estate broker for the benefit of the tenant, including administrative fees permitted by G.S. 42A-17(c), if the disbursement is expressly authorized in the vacation rental agreement. The funds remaining after any disbursement permitted under this subsection shall remain in the trust account and may not be disbursed until the occurrence of one of the following:
(1) The commencement of the tenancy, at which time the remaining funds may be disbursed in accordance with the terms of the agreement.
(2) The tenant commits a material breach, at which time the landlord may retain an amount sufficient to defray the actual damages suffered by the landlord as a result of the breach.
(3) The landlord or real estate broker refunds the money to the tenant.
(4) The funds in the trust account are transferred in accordance with G.S. 42A-19(b) upon the termination of the landlord's interest in the property.
(b) Funds collected for sales or occupancy taxes and tenant security deposits shall not be disbursed from the trust account prior to termination of the tenancy or material breach of the agreement by the tenant, except as a refund to the tenant.
(c) The tenant's execution of a vacation rental agreement in which he or she agrees to the advance disbursement of payments shall not constitute a waiver or loss of any of the tenant's rights to reimbursement of such payments if the tenant is lawfully entitled to reimbursement. (1999-420, s. 1.)
§ 42A-17. Accounting; reimbursement.
(a) A vacation rental agreement shall identify the name and address of the federally insured depository institution or trust institution in which the tenant's security deposit and other advance payments are held in a trust account, and the landlord and real estate broker shall provide the tenant with an accounting of such deposit and payments if the tenant makes a reasonable request for an accounting prior to the tenant's occupancy of the property.
(b) Except as provided in G.S. 42A-36, if, at the time the tenant is to begin occupancy of the property, the landlord or real estate broker cannot provide the property in a fit and habitable condition or substitute a reasonably comparable property in such condition, the landlord and real estate broker shall refund to the tenant all payments made by the tenant.
(c) A vacation rental agreement may include administrative fees, the amounts of which shall be provided in the agreement, reasonably calculated to cover the costs of processing the tenant's reservation, transfer, or cancellation of a vacation rental.
(d) A vacation rental agreement may include a cleaning fee, the amount of which shall be provided in the agreement, reasonably calculated to cover the costs of cleaning the residential property upon the termination of the tenancy. (1999-420, s. 1; 2005-292, s. 1; 2012-17, s. 6; 2017-25, s. 1(c).)
§ 42A-18. Applicability of the Residential Tenant Security Deposit Act.
(a) Except as may otherwise be provided in this Chapter, all funds collected from a tenant and not identified in the vacation rental agreement as occupancy or sales taxes, fees, or rent payments shall be considered a tenant security deposit and shall be subject to the provisions of the Residential Tenant Security Deposit Act, as codified in Article 6 of Chapter 42 of the General Statutes. Funds collected as a tenant security deposit in connection with a vacation rental shall be deposited into a trust account as required by G.S. 42-50. The landlord or real estate broker shall not have the option of obtaining a bond in lieu of maintaining security deposit funds in a trust account. In addition to the permitted uses of tenant security deposit monies as provided in G.S. 42-51, a landlord or real estate broker may, after the termination of a tenancy under this Chapter, deduct from any tenant security deposit the amount of any long distance or per call telephone charges and cable television charges that are the obligation of the tenant under the vacation rental agreement and are left unpaid by the tenant at the conclusion of the tenancy. The landlord or real estate broker shall apply, account for, or refund tenant security deposit monies as provided in G.S. 42-51 within 45 days following the conclusion of the tenancy.
(b) A vacation rental agreement shall not contain language compelling or permitting the automatic forfeiture of all or part of a tenant security deposit in case of breach of contract by the tenant, and no such forfeiture shall be allowed. The vacation rental agreement shall provide that a tenant security deposit may be applied to actual damages caused by the tenant as permitted under Article 6 of Chapter 42 of the General Statutes. (1999-420, s. 1.)
§ 42A-19. Transfer of property subject to a vacation rental agreement.
(a) The grantee of residential property voluntarily transferred by a landlord who has entered into a vacation rental agreement for the use of the property shall take title to the property subject to the vacation rental agreement if the vacation rental is to end not later than 180 days after the grantee's interest in the property is recorded in the office of the register of deeds. If the vacation rental is to end more than 180 days after the recording of the grantee's interest, the tenant shall have no right to enforce the terms of the agreement unless the grantee has agreed in writing to honor those terms, but the tenant shall be entitled to a refund of payments made by him or her, as provided in subsection (b) of this section.
Prior to entering into any contract of sale, the landlord shall disclose to the grantee the time periods that the property is subject to a vacation rental agreement. Not later than 10 days after transfer of the property, the landlord shall disclose to the grantee each tenant's name and address and shall provide the grantee with a copy of each vacation rental agreement. In lieu of providing the grantee a copy of each vacation rental agreement, where the landlord or the landlord's agent utilizes a standard form vacation rental agreement, the landlord may provide the grantee with a copy of the part of each vacation rental agreement that contains information unique to the tenancy, the amount to be paid by the tenant, and the parties' signatures, along with one copy of the rest of the standard form vacation rental agreement. However, the landlord shall not be required to provide the grantee with copies of the vacation rental agreements if in anticipation of acquiring the property the grantee has engaged the landlord's rental agent to continue to manage the property after the transfer and the landlord authorizes the rental agent to provide the information to the grantee and the grantee approves. Not later than 20 days after transfer of the property, the grantee or the grantee's agent shall:
(1) Notify each tenant in writing of the property transfer, the grantee's name and address, and the date the grantee's interest was recorded.
(2) Advise each tenant whether he or she has the right to occupy the property subject to the terms of the vacation rental agreement and the provisions of this section.
(3) Advise each tenant of whether he or she has the right to receive a refund of any payments made by him or her.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, if the grantee engages as the grantee's broker and rental agent for the property the broker who procured the tenant's vacation rental agreement for the landlord, the grantee shall have no obligation under subdivisions (1), (2), and (3) of this subsection with regard to those tenants whose vacation rental agreements must be honored under this section or with regard to those tenants whose vacation rental agreements the grantee has agreed in writing to honor.
(b) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, upon termination of the landlord's interest in the residential property subject to a vacation rental agreement, whether by sale, assignment, death, appointment of receiver or otherwise, the landlord or the landlord's agent, or the real estate broker, shall, within 30 days, transfer all advance rent paid by the tenant, and the portion of any fees remaining after any lawful deductions made under G.S. 42A-16, to the landlord's successor in interest and thereafter notify the tenant by mail of such transfer and of the transferee's name and address. If a real estate broker is holding advanced rents paid by the tenant pursuant to a vacation rental agreement at the time of the termination of the landlord's interest, the real estate broker may deduct from the advanced rents transferred to the landlord's successor in interest any management fee earned by the real estate broker prior to the transfer. The written agency agreement between the landlord and the real estate broker shall govern when the fee has been earned. If the real estate broker deducts an earned management fee from the advanced rents, the landlord shall be responsible to the landlord's successor in interest for the amount deducted. For vacation rentals that end more than 180 days after the recording of the interest of the landlord's successor in interest, unless the landlord's successor in interest has agreed in writing to honor the vacation rental agreement, the landlord or the landlord's agent, or the real estate broker, shall, within 30 days, transfer all advance rent paid by the tenant, and the portion of any fees remaining after any lawful deductions made under G.S. 42A-16, to the tenant. Compliance with this subsection shall relieve the landlord or real estate broker of further liability with respect to any payment of rent or fees. Funds held as a security deposit shall be disbursed in accordance with G.S. 42A-18.
(c) Repealed by Session Laws 2000-140, s. 41, effective July 21, 2000.
(d) The failure of a landlord to comply with the provisions of this section shall constitute an unfair trade practice in violation of G.S. 75-1.1. A landlord who complies with the requirements of this section shall have no further obligations to the tenant. (1999-420, s. 1; 2000-140, s. 41; 2005-292, s. 2; 2016-98, s. 1.2.)
§§ 42A-20 through 42A-22. Reserved for future codification purposes.
Article 4.
Expedited Eviction Proceedings.
§ 42A-23. Grounds for eviction.
(a) Any tenant who leases residential property subject to a vacation rental agreement under this Chapter for 30 days or less may be evicted and removed from the property in an expedited eviction proceeding brought by the landlord, or real estate broker as agent for the landlord, as provided in this Article if the tenant does one of the following:
(1) Holds over possession after his or her tenancy has expired.
(2) Has committed a material breach of the terms of the vacation rental agreement that, according to the terms of the agreement, results in the termination of his or her tenancy.
(3) Fails to pay rent as required by the agreement.
(4) Has obtained possession of the property by fraud or misrepresentation.
(b) Only the right to possession shall be relevant in an expedited eviction proceeding. All other issues related to the rental of the residential property shall be presented in a separate civil action. (1999-420, s. 1.)
§ 42A-24. Expedited eviction.
(a) Before commencing an expedited eviction proceeding, the landlord or real estate broker shall give the tenant at least four hours' notice, either orally or in writing, to quit the premises. If reasonable efforts to personally give oral or written notice have failed, written notice may be given by posting the notice on the front door of the property.
(b) An expedited eviction proceeding shall commence with the filing of a complaint and issuance of summons in the county where the property is located. If the office of the clerk of superior court is closed, the complaint shall be filed with, and the summons issued by, a magistrate. The service of the summons and complaint for expedited eviction shall be made by a sworn law enforcement officer on the tenant personally or by posting a copy of the summons and complaint on the front door of the property. The officer, upon service, shall promptly file a return therefor. A hearing on the expedited eviction shall be held before a magistrate in the county where the property is located not sooner than 12 hours after service upon the tenant and no later than 48 hours after such service. To the extent that the provisions of this Article are in conflict with the Rules of Civil Procedure, Chapter 1A of the General Statutes, with respect to the commencement of an action or service of process, this Article controls.
(c) The complaint for expedited eviction shall allege and the landlord or real estate broker shall prove the following at the hearing:
(1) The vacation rental is for a term of 30 days or less.
(2) The tenant entered into and accepted a vacation rental agreement that conforms to the provisions of this Chapter.
(3) The tenant committed one or more of the acts listed in G.S. 42A-23(a) as grounds for eviction.
(4) The landlord or real estate broker has given notice to the tenant to vacate as a result of the breach as provided in subsection (a) of this section.
The rules of evidence shall not apply in an expedited eviction proceeding, and the court shall allow any reasonably reliable and material statements, documents, or other exhibits to be admitted as evidence. The provisions of G.S. 7A-218, 7A-219, and 7A-220, except any provisions regarding amount in controversy, shall apply to an expedited eviction proceeding held before the magistrate. These provisions shall not be construed to broaden the scope of an expedited eviction proceeding to issues other than the right to possession.
(d) If the court finds for the landlord or real estate broker, the court shall immediately enter a written order granting the landlord or real estate broker possession and stating the time when the tenant shall vacate the property. In no case shall this time be less than 2 hours or more than 8 hours after service of the order on the tenant. The court's order shall be served on the tenant at the hearing. If the tenant does not appear at the hearing or leaves before the order is served, the order shall be served by delivering the order to the tenant or by posting the order on the front door of the property by any sworn law enforcement officer. The officer, upon service, shall file a return therefor.
If the court finds for the landlord or real estate broker, the court shall determine the amount of the appeal bond that the tenant shall be required to post should the tenant seek to appeal the court order. The amount of the bond shall be an estimate of the rent that will become due while the tenant is prosecuting the appeal and reasonable damages that the landlord may suffer, including damage to property and damages arising from the inability of the landlord or real estate broker to honor other vacation rental agreements due to the tenant's possession of the property. (1999-420, s. 1.)
§ 42A-25. Appeal.
A tenant or landlord may appeal a court order issued pursuant to G.S. 42A-24(d) to district court for a trial de novo. A tenant may petition the district court to stay the eviction order and shall post a cash or secured bond with the court in the amount determined by the court pursuant to G.S. 42A-24(d). (1999-420, s. 1.)
§ 42A-26. Violation of court order.
If a tenant fails to remove personal property from a residential property subject to a vacation rental after the court has entered an order of eviction, the landlord or real estate broker shall have the same rights as provided in G.S. 42-36.2(b) as if the sheriff had not removed the tenant's property. The failure of a tenant or the guest of a tenant to vacate a residential property in accordance with a court order issued pursuant to G.S. 42A-24(d) shall constitute a criminal trespass under G.S. 14-159.13. (1999-420, s. 1.)
§ 42A-27. Penalties for abuse.
A landlord or real estate broker shall undertake to evict a tenant pursuant to an expedited eviction proceeding only when he or she has a good faith belief that grounds for eviction exists under the provisions of this Chapter. Otherwise, the landlord or real estate broker shall be guilty of an unfair trade practice under G.S. 75-1.1 and a Class 1 misdemeanor. (1999-420, s. 1.)
§§ 42A-28 through 42A-30. Reserved for future codification purposes.
Article 5.
Landlord and Tenant Duties.
§ 42A-31. Landlord to provide fit premises.
A landlord of a residential property used for a vacation rental shall:
(1) Comply with all current applicable building and housing codes to the extent required by the operation of the codes. However, no new requirement is imposed if a structure is exempt from a current building or housing code.
(1a) Comply with all applicable elevator safety requirements in G.S. 143-143.7.
(2) Make all repairs and do whatever is reasonably necessary to put and keep the property in a fit and habitable condition.
(3) Keep all common areas of the property in safe condition.
(4) Maintain in good and safe working order and reasonably and promptly repair all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, and other facilities and major appliances supplied by him or her upon written notification from the tenant that repairs are needed.
(5) Provide operable smoke detectors. The landlord shall replace or repair the smoke detectors if the landlord is notified by the tenant in writing that replacement or repair is needed. The landlord shall annually place new batteries in a battery-operated smoke detector, and the tenant shall replace the batteries as needed during the tenancy. Failure of the tenant to replace the batteries as needed shall not be considered negligence on the part of the tenant or landlord.
(6) Provide a minimum of one operable carbon monoxide alarm per rental unit per level, either battery-operated or electrical, that is listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory that is OSHA-approved to test and certify to American National Standards Institute/Underwriters Laboratories Standards ANSI/UL2034 or ANSI/UL2075, and install the carbon monoxide alarms in accordance with either the standards of the National Fire Protection Association or the minimum protection designated in the manufacturer's instructions, which the landlord shall retain or provide as proof of compliance. A landlord that installs one carbon monoxide alarm per rental unit per level shall be deemed to be in compliance with standards under this subdivision covering the location and number of alarms. The landlord shall replace or repair the carbon monoxide alarms within three days of receipt of notification if the landlord is notified of needed replacement or repairs in writing by the tenant. At least every six months, the landlord shall ensure that a carbon monoxide alarm is operable and in good repair. Unless the landlord and the tenant have a written agreement to the contrary, the landlord shall place new batteries in a battery-operated carbon monoxide alarm annually and the tenant shall replace the batteries as needed during the tenancy. Failure of the tenant to replace the batteries as needed shall not be considered as negligence on the part of the tenant or the landlord. A carbon monoxide alarm may be combined with smoke alarms if the combined alarm does both of the following: (i) complies with ANSI/UL2034 or ANSI/UL2075 for carbon monoxide alarms and ANSI/UL217 for smoke alarms and (ii) emits an alarm in a manner that clearly differentiates between detecting the presence of carbon monoxide and the presence of smoke. This subdivision applies only to dwelling units having a fossil-fuel burning heater, appliance, or fireplace and in any dwelling unit having an attached garage. Any operable carbon monoxide detector installed before January 1, 2015, shall be deemed to be in compliance with this subdivision.
These duties shall not be waived; however, the landlord and tenant may make additional covenants not inconsistent herewith in the vacation rental agreement. (1999-420, s. 1; 2016-98, s. 1.3; 2022-56, s. 3.)
§ 42A-32. Tenant to maintain dwelling unit.
The tenant of a residential property used for a vacation rental shall:
(1) Keep that part of the property which he or she occupies and uses as clean and safe as the conditions of the property permit and cause no unsafe or unsanitary conditions in the common areas and remainder of the property that he or she uses.
(2) Dispose of all ashes, rubbish, garbage, and other waste in a clean and safe manner.
(3) Keep all plumbing fixtures in the property or used by the tenant as clean as their condition permits.
(4) Not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, or remove any part of the property or render inoperable the smoke detector provided by the landlord or knowingly permit any person to do so.
(5) Comply with all obligations imposed upon the tenant by current applicable building and housing codes.
(6) Be responsible for all damage, defacement, or removal of any property inside the property that is in his or her exclusive control unless the damage, defacement, or removal was due to ordinary wear and tear, acts of the landlord or his or her agent, defective products supplied or repairs authorized by the landlord, acts of third parties not invitees of the tenant, or natural forces.
(7) Notify the landlord of the need for replacement of or repairs to a smoke detector. The landlord shall annually place new batteries in a battery-operated smoke detector, and the tenant shall replace the batteries as needed during the tenancy. Failure of the tenant to replace the batteries as needed shall not be considered negligence on the part of the tenant or the landlord.
These duties shall not be waived; however, the landlord and tenant may make additional covenants not inconsistent herewith in the vacation rental agreement. (1999-420, s. 1.)
§ 42A-33. Responsibilities and liability of real estate broker.
(a) A real estate broker managing a vacation rental property on behalf of a landlord shall do all of the following:
(1) Manage the property in accordance with the terms of the written agency agreement signed by the landlord and real estate broker.
(2) Offer vacation rental property to the public for leasing in compliance with all applicable federal and State laws, regulations, and ethical duties, including, but not limited to, those prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicapping condition, or familial status.
(3) Notify the landlord regarding any necessary repairs to keep the property in a fit and habitable or safe condition and follow the landlord's direction in arranging for any such necessary repairs, including repairs to all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, and other facilities and major appliances supplied by the landlord upon written notification from the tenant that repairs are needed.
(4) Verify that the landlord has installed operable smoke detectors and carbon monoxide alarms.
(5) Verify that the landlord has annually placed new batteries in a battery-operated smoke detector or carbon monoxide alarm. Failure of the tenant to replace the batteries as needed shall not be considered negligence on the part of the real estate broker.
(b) A real estate broker or firm managing a vacation rental property on behalf of a landlord client shall not become personally liable as a party in any civil action between the landlord and tenant solely because the real estate broker or firm fails to identify the landlord of the property in the vacation rental agreement. (2016-98, s. 1.3.)
§ 42A-34: Reserved for future codification purposes.
§ 42A-35: Reserved for future codification purposes.
Article 6.
General Provisions.
§ 42A-36. Mandatory evacuations.
If State or local authorities, acting pursuant to Article 1A of Chapter 166A of the General Statutes, order a mandatory evacuation of an area that includes the residential property subject to a vacation rental, the tenant under the vacation rental agreement, whether in possession of the property or not, shall comply with the evacuation order. Upon compliance, the tenant shall be entitled to a refund from the landlord of the rent, taxes, and any other payments made by the tenant pursuant to the vacation rental agreement as a condition of the tenant's right to occupy the property prorated for each night that the tenant is unable to occupy the property because of the mandatory evacuation order. The tenant shall not be entitled to a refund if: (i) prior to the tenant taking possession of the property, the tenant refused insurance offered by the landlord or real estate broker that would have compensated the tenant for losses or damages resulting from loss of use of the property due to a mandatory evacuation order; or (ii) the tenant purchased insurance offered by the landlord or real estate broker. The insurance offered shall be provided by an insurance company duly authorized by the North Carolina Department of Insurance, and the cost of the insurance shall not exceed eight percent (8%) of the total amount charged for the vacation rental to the tenant less the amount paid by the tenant for a security deposit. (1999-420, s. 1; 2005-292, s. 3; 2009-245, s. 2; 2012-12, s. 2(h).)
§ 42A-37. Early termination of vacation rental agreement by military personnel.
(a) Any member of the Armed Forces of the United States who executes a vacation rental agreement and subsequently receives (i) an order for deployment with a military unit for a period overlapping with the rental period or (ii) permanent change of station orders requiring the member to relocate on a date prior to the beginning of the lease term may terminate the member's vacation rental agreement by providing the landlord or landlord's agent with a written notice of termination within 10 calendar days of receipt of the order. The notice must be accompanied by either a copy of the official military orders or a written verification signed by the member's commanding officer. Termination of a lease pursuant to this subsection is effective immediately upon receipt of the notice by the landlord or landlord's agent. All monies paid by the terminating member, with the exception of nonrefundable fees paid to third parties as described in G.S. 42-16, in connection with the vacation rental agreement shall be refunded to the member within 30 days of termination of the agreement.
(b) A member's termination of a vacation rental agreement pursuant to subsection (a) of this section shall also terminate any obligation a spouse or dependent of the member may have under the vacation rental agreement.
(c) The right to terminate a vacation rental agreement as described in subsection (a) of this section shall extend to the spouse of any member of the Armed Forces of the United States. A spouse exercising the right to terminate a rental agreement shall provide the same notice as described in subsection (a) of this section.
(d) The provisions of this section may not be waived or modified by the agreement of the parties. (2016-98, s. 1.4; 2017-212, s. 8.6.)
§ 42A-38: Reserved for future codification purposes.
§ 42A-39. (Effective July 1, 2025) Human trafficking awareness reporting and training requirements.
(a) Definitions. - The following definitions apply in this section:
(1) Accommodation facilitator. - As defined in G.S. 105-164.3.
(2) Employee. - As defined in G.S. 130A-492.
(3) Human trafficking awareness training. - The training developed or identified by the Department of Labor pursuant to G.S. 130A-511.
(4) Property manager. - A landlord, as defined in G.S. 42A-4, or real estate broker, as defined in G.S. 93A-2, that has primary responsibility for the listing, supervision, or maintenance of a vacation rental. The term property manager does not include a landlord that delegates all listing, supervisory, and maintenance responsibilities to a real estate broker.
(5) Third-party contractor. - A person not employed by a property manager of a vacation rental who contracts with the property manager to provide services for the vacation rental.
(6) Vacation rental. - As defined in G.S. 42A-4.
(b) Human Trafficking Reporting Requirement. - Before initially listing a vacation rental, either directly or through an accommodation facilitator, the property manager shall implement a procedure for the reporting of suspected human trafficking occurring at vacation rentals to the National Human Trafficking Hotline or to a local law enforcement agency.
(c) Human Trafficking Awareness Training. - For any vacation rental offered for lease, all of the following individuals, if applicable, shall complete human trafficking awareness training:
(1) The property manager, or if the property manager is a partnership, corporation, sole proprietorship, or limited liability company, any employee or third-party contractor who oversees the listing, supervision, or maintenance of the vacation rental on behalf of the property manager.
(2) The property manager's employees who perform housekeeping services at the vacation rental or provide check-in and check-out services for the vacation rental.
(3) Any third-party contractor or employee of a third-party contractor who performs housekeeping services at the vacation rental or provides check-in and check-out services for the vacation rental.
(d) Training Frequency. - Individuals required to complete training pursuant to subsection (c) of this section shall complete the training as follows:
(1) For vacation rentals initially offered for lease on or after July 1, 2025, the property manager shall complete training prior to the vacation rental being offered for lease, and any employee of the property manager, or third-party contractor or employee shall complete training within 60 days of first providing services for the vacation rental, and every two years thereafter.
(2) For vacation rentals initially offered for lease prior to July 1, 2025, the property manager and all individuals employed or contracted by the property manager prior to July 1, 2025, shall complete the training required by this section no later than June 30, 2027, and every two years thereafter.
(e) Accommodation Facilitator Requirements. - If the vacation rental is listed through an accommodation facilitator, the accommodation facilitator shall comply with all of the following requirements:
(1) Notify the property manager of the training requirements of this section.
(2) For any vacation rental initially listed with the accommodation facilitator on or after July 1, 2025, prior to making the listing available, require the property manager to certify that any training required by this section has been completed.
(3) For any vacation rental initially listed with the accommodation facilitator prior to July 1, 2025, require the property manager to certify no later than June 30, 2027, that any training required by this section has been completed.
(4) Report to the Department of Labor within 30 days of request on the methods used to notify property managers of the requirements of this section, and to require certification of their compliance with the requirements of this section.
(f) Penalty. - The Department of Labor may impose an administrative penalty against any property manager or any third-party contractor who willfully and knowingly violates the requirements of this section in the amount of five hundred dollars ($500.00) for the first violation, one thousand dollars ($1,000) for the second violation, and two thousand dollars ($2,000) for the third and each subsequent violation. The clear proceeds of penalties assessed under this subsection shall be remitted to the Civil Penalty and Forfeiture Fund in accordance with G.S. 115C-457.2.
(g) Unfair Trade Practice. - It shall constitute an unfair trade practice in violation of G.S. 75-1.1 for a property manager to intentionally make a material misstatement in an acknowledgment of human trafficking awareness training completion.
(h) No Private Right. - Nothing in this section shall (i) be construed as creating a private cause of action against an accommodation facilitator, or its employees, for any act or omission arising out of the requirements of this section or (ii) in any way limit or impair the rights or remedies which are otherwise available to a victim of human trafficking under any other law. (2024-26, s. 2.)