According to G.S. § 42-42(a), the landlord of a rental unit shall:
(A) Comply with the current applicable building and housing codes, whether enacted before or after October 1, 1977, to the extent required by the operation of the codes; no new requirement is imposed by this division (A) if a structure is exempt from a current building code;
(B) Make all repairs and do whatever is necessary to put and keep the premises in a fit and habitable condition;
(C) Keep all common areas of the premises in safe condition;
(D) Maintain in good and safe working order and promptly repair all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and other facilities and appliances supplied or required to be supplied by the landlord provided that notification of needed repairs is made to the landlord in writing by the tenant, except in emergency situations;
(E) Provide operable smoke detectors, either battery-operated or electrical, having an Underwriters' Laboratories, Inc., listing or other equivalent national testing laboratory approval, and install the smoke detectors in accordance with either the standards of the National Fire Protection Association or the minimum protection designated in the manufacturer's instructions, which the landlord shall retain or provide as proof of compliance. The landlord shall replace or repair the smoke detectors within 15 days of receipt of notification if the landlord is notified of needed replacement or repairs in writing by the tenant. The landlord shall ensure that a smoke detector is operable and in good repair at the beginning of each tenancy. Unless the landlord and the tenant have a written agreement to the contrary, the landlord shall place new batteries in a battery-operated smoke detector at the beginning of a tenancy and the tenant shall replace the batteries as needed during the tenancy. Failure of the tenant to replace the batteries as needed shall not be considered as negligence on the part of the tenant or the landlord; and
(F) If the landlord is charging for the cost of providing water or sewer service pursuant to G.S. § 42-42.1 and has actual knowledge from either the supplying water system or other reliable source that water being supplied to tenants within the landlord's property exceeds a maximum contaminant level established pursuant to G.S. Ch. 130A, Art. 10, then he or she shall provide notice that water being supplied exceeds a maximum contaminant level to the tenant.
(Ord. passed - -2007) Penalty, see § 10.99