Asked in Landlord - Tenant for North Carolina

Q: Is it legal for a landlord to charge rent when you have vacated and returned keys

Our landlord is releasing us from our lease early, they have rented our apartment as of June 12th. The problem I have is that they require us to be out of the apartment by noon on May 31 but yet they say we must pay rent until june 12th and we must keep utilities in our name until then. Is this legal? It would be my opinion that since we have to give them the keys May 31, that we lose all rights to the apt and therefore should not have to pay.

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1 Lawyer Answer
Paige Kurtz
Paige Kurtz
Answered
  • Raleigh, NC
  • Licensed in North Carolina

A: If the landlord is requiring you to vacate the property by a certain date and you do not occupy the property beyond that date, then you are not responsible for rent or utilities beyond that date.

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