Are you a North Carolina (NC) Landlord?  Do you own rental property in North Carolina?  If so, the State of North Carolina has introduced a new law that you need to pay attention to.

Starting January 1st, 2010, all North Carolina rental properties that have an attached garage or use fossil fuels for heat and/or appliances must have a working Carbon Monoxide Detector.

N.C. Gen Stat. § 42-42 to 42-44 – Landlord and Tenant Articles – Residential Rental Agreements

This statute requires NC Landlords to provide one operable carbon monoxide detector per rental unit / per level.  NC Landlords that install one such detector per rental unit level shall be deemed to be in compliance with the standards.  The statute goes on to say that the landlord shall replace or repair the carbon monoxide detectors within 15 days of receipt of notification if the landlord is notified of needed replacement or repairs in writing by the tenant.  The Landlord is responsible for ensuring that a carbon monoxide detector is operable and in good repair at the beginning of each tenancy.  Unless the Landlord and the tenant have a written agreement to the contrary, the Landlord shall place new batteries in a battery operated carbon monoxide at the beginning of a tenancy, and the tenant shall replace the batteries as needed during the tenancy.

In regards to Carbon Monoxide Detectors, many Insurance Carriers that write NC Rental Property Insurance have been requiring their customers (which fit the above statute standards) to have Detectors in place.  While their is a small cost for the detectors (typically $25 – $30), Landlords should be concerned with the threat of Carbon Monoxide and the danger(s) it presents to their tenants.  Having a house burn down is bad, being sued by a tenant for the death of a loved one due to Carbon Monoxide poisoning would be worse.  If you own NC Rental Property, make sure you abiding by best practices with regard to the up-keep of your property.  As a Landlord, you should also make sure your Liability arising out of your rental property business is protected.

About The Author:  Jack Wingate is the Co-Founder and President of ALLCHOICE Insurance in Greensboro, NC.  For more information about Jack Wingate, ALLCHOICE Insurance, or North Carolina Rental Property Insurance please visit http://www.allchoiceinsurance.com


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