Tenants in NC have rights even without a written lease.
County next steps
Orange · Durham · Wake · North Carolina · Adults 18+
Orange County
Orange County Housing Helpline & Housing Department
300 West Tryon Street, third floor, Hillsborough; alternate office: 2501 Homestead Road, Chapel Hill
919-245-2655- Ask about housing-crisis screening, coordinated entry, or eviction diversion.
- Confirm which office handles the requested service and whether an appointment is needed.
- Ask about documentation and the next assessment; shelter, funding, and placement are not guaranteed.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Durham County
Entry Point Durham
414 East Main Street, Durham, NC 27701; confirm the current intake desk
984-287-8313- Call or visit and ask for Entry Point housing-crisis assessment.
- Confirm the current intake desk before traveling; published floor information differs.
- Ask about shelter and housing referrals; assessment does not guarantee a bed or placement.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Wake County
Oak City Cares — coordinated entry
1430 South Wilmington Street, Raleigh, NC 27603
984-344-9599- Call only to clarify current access arrangements; coordinated-entry referrals are made in person.
- Attend and sign in for care coordination; confirm current hours before traveling.
- Ask about shelter, street outreach, or prevention referrals. Oak City Cares is not a shelter or a direct rent-payment program.
Official source checked November 4, 2026. Confirm current hours, eligibility, costs, and availability directly.
Key facts
- Only a court can evict. A landlord can't change the locks, remove belongings, or shut off utilities to force someone out.
- Eviction (summary ejectment) starts with a court summons. Go to the hearing at the magistrate's office.
- After a magistrate's ruling, the tenant has 10 days to appeal to District Court.
- Security deposits in NC: up to 1.5 months' rent for month-to-month, or 2 months' for longer leases. The deposit or an itemized list is due within 30 days after moving out.
- Landlords must keep homes fit and safe (heat, plumbing, electric, smoke alarms). Ask for repairs in writing.
- Housing discrimination because of disability, race, religion, sex, family status, and more is illegal. File with HUD or the NC Human Relations Commission.
- Tenants with disabilities can ask for reasonable accommodations (like an assistance animal).
Official sources
- NC Judicial Branch: Evictions
- NC General Statutes Chapter 42 (landlord and tenant)
- HUD: File a fair housing complaint
- NC Human Relations Commission
Last checked October 2026. Amounts and rules change, so confirm with the official source before sharing.