| Rent Increase Facts | Answer |
| Reason Needed? | No |
| Maximum Amount | None |
| Required Notice | No Statute |
Does North Carolina Have Rent Control Laws?
North Carolina does not have rent control laws limiting the amount that landlords request for rent. In addition, state law prohibits local governments from establishing rent control laws.
When Can a Landlord Raise Rent in North Carolina?
Landlords in North Carolina can raise the rent at any time, as long as they comply with the following:
- Give reasonable notice
- Wait until the end of the lease term (unless otherwise specified in the lease)
- Aren’t raising rent for discriminatory or retaliatory reasons
30 days before the end of a year-long lease, a landlord sends the tenant a notice that rent will increase by 4.5% if they choose to renew the lease.
When Can’t a Landlord Raise Rent in North Carolina?
Landlords in North Carolina may not raise the rent if:
- It is during the middle of a lease’s fixed term (unless stated otherwise in the lease agreement).
- It is done in response to a protected tenant action, such as filing a complaint. This is known as “retaliation” .
- The increase is applied in a way that discriminates against one of the protected classes specified in the Fair Housing Act.
North Carolina’s retaliation law only prevents retaliatory evictions within 12 months of a tenant action . However, landlords are always required to act in good faith.
How Often Can Rent Be Increased in North Carolina?
Landlords in North Carolina can increase the rent as often as they wish, as long as reasonable notice is provided each time.
How Much Notice is Needed to Raise Rent in North Carolina?
North Carolina law does not require a specific notice period before raising the rent. However, the law requires that parties to a contract act in good faith, meaning that a landlord should give the tenant reasonable notice when increasing rent.
The notice period required for the termination of a lease is typically used as reasonable notice for a rent increase as follows:
- Year-to-year lease – One month’s notice
- Month-to-month lease – 7 days’ notice
How Much Can a Landlord Raise Rent in North Carolina?
In North Carolina, landlords can raise the rent by any amount. There is no legal limit or cap on the amount of a rent increase.
Sources
- 1 NC Gen Stat § 42-14.1
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No county or city…may enact, maintain, or enforce any ordinance or resolution which regulates the amount of rent to be charged…
Source Link - 2 NC Gen Stat § 42-42.2
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A landlord shall not terminate a tenancy, fail to renew a tenancy, refuse to enter into a rental agreement, or otherwise retaliate in the rental of a dwelling based…status as a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking…
Source Link - 3 NC Gen Stat § 42-37.1
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In an action for summary ejectment…may raise the affirmative defense of retaliatory eviction and may present evidence that the landlord’s action is substantially in response to the occurrence within 12 months of the filing of such action…
Source Link - 4 NC Gen Stat § 42-14
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A tenancy from year to year may be terminated by a notice to quit given one month…a tenancy from month to month by a like notice of seven days…
Source Link
