North Carolina Room Rental Agreement Template

An agreement for renting one bedroom in a shared home, with private and shared areas, house rules, a fair utility split and clear notice terms. This edition fills in the North Carolina rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.

North Carolina rules for this form

Deposit limit. A deposit may not exceed two weeks of rent for a week-to-week tenancy, one and a half months for month-to-month, and two months for longer terms. (N.C. General Statutes section 42-51)

Deadline to return the deposit. The landlord must return the deposit, with an itemized list of any damage, within 30 days after the tenancy ends, or send an interim accounting then and a final one within 60 days if the claim is not yet known. (N.C. General Statutes section 42-52)

Notice before entry. There is no statewide statute on entry notice, so the lease controls and landlords are generally expected to give reasonable notice except in emergencies. (N.C. General Statutes Chapter 42 (no statewide entry statute))

Late fees. For monthly rent, a late fee may not exceed $15 or 5 percent of the monthly rent, whichever is greater, and may be charged only once per late payment. (N.C. General Statutes section 42-46)

Month-to-month notice. A month-to-month tenancy can be ended by either side with 7 days of notice, unless the lease requires more. (N.C. General Statutes section 42-14)

Required disclosures. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet. (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d))

Required disclosures. Within 30 days after the lease starts, the landlord must tell the tenant where the deposit is held or which insurer issued the bond. (N.C. General Statutes section 42-50)

Required disclosures. The landlord must provide working smoke alarms, and carbon monoxide alarms where the home has a fossil fuel heater, appliance, fireplace or attached garage. (N.C. General Statutes section 42-42)

Cities and counties in North Carolina can add their own rules on top of these. Check local ordinances before you sign.

What is in the template

1. Parties
2. The room and shared areas
3. Term
4. Rent
5. Utilities and household costs
6. Security deposit
7. House rules
8. Privacy and entry
9. Care and repairs
10. Ending this Agreement for a breach
11. Moving out
12. General terms
13. Signatures

Before you use it

• A room rental agreement covers one private room plus shared use of common areas like the kitchen and bathroom.
• House rules on guests, quiet hours, cleaning and shared costs prevent most housemate disputes.
• Some states treat a renter who lives with the owner differently, especially for eviction, so check before you rely on it.
• Fair housing law still applies to most room rentals, though some owner-occupied homes have narrow exemptions.

For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the room rental agreement.