Law Commons^™

Defending The Low-Income Tenant In North Carolina, Dale A. Whitman

Faculty Publications

The low-income tenant is in a uniquely precarious position under the law. He typically holds under an oral lease, often on an implied periodic tenancy from week to week. Even where a written lease is executed, it is almost invariably on a form prepared by the landlord. The tenant has little bargaining power in today's urban housing markets; moreover, he is usually not represented by counsel and is unable to intelligently exert whatever bargaining power he may possess. The land- lord is generally a professional in the renting business, and knows well how to manipulate the legal rules for his …