Eviction: Padlocking

Quick Facts

IF YOU DON’T FILE AN APPEAL (or if you miss a rent bond payment)

  • You may be forced to leave within less than a week of the appeal/payment deadline.

  • The sheriff may send you a notice in the mail stating the exact date and time when you will have to leave (often referred to as the "padlocking" date).

  • You should remove all of your belongings from your residence before the padlock date.

 

If you do not remove all of your belongings

  • If you still have belongings in the residence after the padlocking, you should contact your landlord immediately to make an appointment to get the remaining belongings.

  • There is a 7-day deadline from the date of the padlocking to get your things.

  • If you contact the landlord within the 7-day deadline, the landlord is only obliged to give you one opportunity to retrieve your things.  You should be sure that you are equipped and able to get everything at once, and that you have enough time and help to do so.

  • After the 7-day period ends, the landlord can keep, sell, give away, or throw away your things.

 

 


To find other Legal Aid of North Carolina materials, including any materials mentioned in this document, go to LawhelpNC.org/. If you need legal help please go to legalaidnc.org/.
 

 

Last Review and Update: Jul 31, 2014
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