North Carolina Commercial Lease Agreement

Compliance With Local Health and Safety Codes

Landlords in North Carolina are expected to comply with specific safety and health regulations in order to prevent issues with their rental properties.

As per the state law, landlords are required to include the following:

• The operational status of all the amenities and gadgets is satisfactory.
• Review the compliance with the currently applicable housing and building codes.
• The condition of all shared spaces is secure.
• Make sure that the smoke alarms are in good condition.
• Ensure there’s at least a functional carbon monoxide detector available.

Landlords who charge their tenants for water and sewer services must assess whether the water they provide exceeds the maximum contaminant level mentioned in the North Carolina Drinking Water Act.

Regulations Regarding Late Fees and Interest Charges

• 15% or $15 per month
• Grace Period of 5 days

In North Carolina, the late fee cannot exceed $15 or 5% of the total amount due, whichever is greater. If businesses wish to do so, they may give a grace period before applying late fees. As good practice, offering a grace period of five to seven days is recommended.

Procedures for Handling Abandoned Commercial Property

A Notice of Abandonment in North Carolina is a written document issued when a tenant leaves a rented property before the end of the lease agreement without informing the landlord. This notice can also be given if a property is deemed abandoned. It’s an important legal document that can be used as evidence in case legal action needs to be taken.

Before determining if a North Carolina property has been abandoned, certain measures should be taken to ensure that the tenant has left and that further action can be taken.

• To determine whether a tenancy has been abandoned, the first step is to consider whether the lease has expired or ended. If it has expired, there’s no need to worry about abandonment. This means the tenant has reached the end of their North Carolina commercial lease term and decided to leave the property. At this point, the tenant is no longer required to pay rent and should vacate the property, effectively ending the tenancy.

• If the landlord finds out that the tenant has vacated the rental property without prior notice and before the lease period ends, it might be a case of abandonment. In such a situation, there are some additional steps that a landlord should follow. If the landlord observes that the tenant has not visited the property for seven (7) consecutive days and has not paid the rent for ten (10) days, the landlord can give them a notice.

It’s important to note that the conditions for tenant eviction can change if the landlord discovers that the tenant’s possessions are missing from the property. In such a case, the landlord can issue a notice to the tenant after they’re gone and have not paid the rent for five (5) days. This notice is known as the lessor’s notice, and if the tenant fails to respond, they may face eviction.