We have examined many different reasons why landlords and tenants find themselves in the middle of a dispute, whether the disagreements are centered around a rental agreement or they are financial in nature. In this post, we will look into some legal issues related to property damage, which can be a very serious issue for tenants as well as landlords in Raleigh and throughout North Carolina. Whether a tenant is falsely accused of damaging property or a landlord wants to evict or take legal action against a tenant because they have damaged property, this is a serious issue.
From a tenant’s perspective, allegations of property damage can be very difficult. It is smart for tenants to protect themselves against false claims of damaging property by signing an agreement with their landlord which details existing damage when they move in. Often, this consists of a move-in checklist documenting visible defects room by room. Later on, if a landlord tries to accuse a tenant of damaging property, they may be able to prove that the damage was already there when they moved in. However, some tenants do not take this measure, and there may be damage that goes unnoticed when such agreements are signed.
On the other hand, a landlord may be very upset with tenants who have damaged property. From broken windows to very serious forms of property damage (such as fires), property damage can be an incredibly difficult topic for landlords as well. Sometimes, these issues lead to heated disputes. It is crucial for tenants and landlords to understand their legal options and approach such a dispute correctly.