Carolina · Member since 2017 · 519 posts · 222 votes
Hey everyone, hope you are all well!
So I have been going through the North Carolina Association of Realtors Standard Form 410-T. The lease.
I was figuring it makes the most sense to use that since it should be good as far as legalities are concerned for our state.
What addendums do you all add onto your leases to make sure things are solid, concrete, and all bases are covered?
Also it mentions the tenant having a certain period of days to complete a Move-In inspection form? I set that as 5 days. Is that reasonable? Also, do most of you let the tenant fill this out themselves or do you walk through with them and fill it out together while also taking pictures?
Any other "I wish I had known this when I did my first lease" information you can give me would be so very appreciated!
The standard form is a good document that all NC attorneys and judges know. It has become a "no brainer" to use this document because it contains most high-use cases that tenants and landlords routinely face. It is marginally pro-landlord. It also mirrors state statutes on landlord / tenant rules. The move-in form is good either way, and 5 days is a good time frame.
Addenda for well and/or septic, to identify the responsible parties for maintenance, is recommended, as is an addenda for local ordinance compliance for the tenant in cities like Raleigh that may restrict having a business in a residential property.
Congratulations on your rental! I always use the maintenance and pet (if appropriate) addenda and agree that 5 days is a good time frame. I would walk through the home with the tenant and take pictures.