Tenants are entitled by law to safe and decent housing, and are in turn required to be good stewards of their domicile and fulfill obligations to their landlord. Resources and information on housing standards, the duties of tenants, and other topics are available below.

Information on Fair Housing protections in Chatham County is available on the Fair Housing webpage.

Para obtener más información en español:

• El Proyecto de Equidad de Vivienda de la Ayuda Legal de Carolina del Norte (“Legal Aid of North Carolina”)
• Recursos de alojamiento en (LawHelpNC.org en español) 

Eviction Resources

Eviction can be a stressful process, and resources may be hard to find in a crisis. Legal aid sites provide support for households facing an eviction, including support in dealing with landlords and the court system throughout the eviction process.

• Eviction: Know Your Rights from LawHelpNC, including information on the eviction process and court appearances.
• Eviction Guide from Legal Aid of North Carolina, with details on responding to eviction notices and preparing for court

Timely Repair and Upkeep

Landlords are required to keep their units in good and safe working order and follow relevant state and local codes. Problems with major systems, such as the plumbing, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, electric systems, and major appliances described in the lease, must be addressed by landlords in a timely manner. In addition, landlords must provide basic safety equipment such as fire alarms and carbon monoxide detectors in certain circumstances. More specific information is available below, as well as resources for support when landlords do not fulfill their obligations.

• Landlord and Tenant Issues: Know Your Rights from LawHelpNC.org 
• Tenant Rights Clinics and Information from Legal Aid of North Carolina
• Landlord-Tenant Dispute Information from the North Carolina Department of Justice
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Specific Rights and Duties of Military Members

Members of the military services are provided specific rights should they need to terminate a lease early or on short notice. State and federal law provide different provisions for each group.

• Special Landlord and Tenant Laws for Military Personnel from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission 
• Questions and Answers on Lease Termination for Military Personnel from the North Carolina Real Estate Commission