A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT to clarify late fees charged to residential tenants and to permit military personnel deployed on certain temporary assignments to terminate rental agreements early.
The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:
SECTION 1.  G.S. 42‑46(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	In all residential rental agreements in which a definite time for the payment of the rent is fixed, the parties may agree to a late fee not inconsistent with the provisions of this subsection, to be chargeable only if any rental payment is five days or more late. If the rent: 
(1)	Is due in monthly installments, a landlord may charge a late fee not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) or five percent (5%) of the monthly rent, whichever is greater.
(2)	Is due in weekly installments, a landlord may charge a late fee not to exceed four dollars ($4.00) or five percent (5%) of the weekly rent, whichever is greater.
(3)	Is subsidized by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, by the United States Department of Agriculture, by a State agency, by a public housing authority, or by a local government, any late fee shall be calculated in accordance with subdivisions (1) and (2) of this subsection on the tenant's share of the contract rent only, and the rent subsidy shall not be included."
SECTION 2.  G.S. 42‑45(a) reads as rewritten:
"(a)	Any member of the United States Armed Forces who (i) is required to move pursuant to permanent change of station orders to depart 50 miles or more from the location of the dwelling unit, (ii) has received temporary duty orders in excess of three months duration to depart 50 miles or more from the location of the dwelling unit, or (iii) is prematurely or involuntarily discharged or released from active duty with the United States Armed Forces, may terminate his rental agreement for a dwelling unit by providing the landlord with a written notice of termination to be effective on a date stated in the notice that is at least 30 days after the landlord's receipt of the notice. The notice to the landlord must be accompanied by either a copy of the official military orders or a written verification signed by the member's commanding officer."
SECTION 3.  This act is effective when it becomes law.