Bill Summary for H 721 (2011-2012)

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Summary date: 

Apr 6 2011

Bill Information:

View NCGA Bill Details2011-2012 Session
House Bill 721 (Public) Filed Wednesday, April 6, 2011
REQUIRING LANDLORDS AND TENANTS TO TAKE CERTAIN ACTIONS TO EXTERMINATE BEDBUGS IN DWELLING UNITS.
Intro. by McCormick.

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Bill summary

Amends GS 42-42 to prohibit a landlord from offering for lease any premises that the landlord knows to be infested by bedbugs. Authorizes the landlord to obtain a certificate from a licensed pest control company certifying that the premises are free of bedbugs as conclusive evidence that the landlord is in compliance with this provision.
Adds new GS 42-43.1 to require a tenant to notify his or her landlord, in writing, within five days of suspecting the presence of any infestation of bedbugs. Specifies the conditions under which the landlord or the tenant is responsible for having the bedbugs exterminated. Specifies procedures the tenant must follow if tenant is responsible for the extermination of the bedbugs and provides that failure of the tenant to comply with the provisions is a breach of the tenant’s obligations under GS 42-43(a)(8), authorizing the landlord to take certain actions. Requires the tenant to pay all fees and damages associated with the extermination and to provide proof of extermination to the landlord if the tenant is responsible for the extermination. Provides that after a licensed pest control company has treated the premises and deemed the premises free of an infestation of bedbugs, the tenant is responsible for all subsequent infestations. If it is determined by a licensed pest control company that the source of the bedbugs is an adjacent unit, however, then the tenant in the source unit is responsible for the extermination of the bedbugs.
Makes conforming changes to GS 42-43.
Amends GS 42-51 to permit a landlord to also use a security deposit for possible damages due to a violation of the tenant’s obligation under GS 42-43(a)(8).