North Carolina Tenant Harassment Laws
North Carolina prohibits self-help evictions under N.
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Key Rules
- Self Help Prohibited
- Yes — removing belongings, changing locks, cutting utilities without court order all prohibited
- Retaliation Prohibited
- Yes — retaliatory eviction after tenant complains to housing authorities is prohibited
- Remedies
- Actual damages plus attorney's fees for self-help eviction; 3 months rent or actual damages for retaliation
- Penalty
- 3 months rent statutory damages available for self-help eviction
Applicable Statutes
Prohibition on retaliatory eviction and landlord retaliation: landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting housing code violations to authorities.
Self-help eviction prohibited: landlord may not remove tenant's belongings, change locks, or cut off utilities to force tenant to vacate without court order.
Legal Aid Resources
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