N.C. Gen. Stat. § § 42-2
Attornment unnecessary on conveyance of reversions, etc.
Operative Text
Every conveyance of any rent, reversion, or remainder in lands, tenements or hereditaments, otherwise sufficient, shall be deemed complete without attornment by the holders of particular estates in said lands: Provided, no holder of a particular estate shall be prejudiced by any act done by him as holding under his grantor, without notice of such conveyance. (4 Anne, c. 16, s. 9; 1868-9, c. 156, s. 17; Code, s. 1764; Rev., s. 947; C.S., s. 2342.)
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-2, when a landlord sells or transfers a rent, reversion, or remainder interest in real property, that transfer is legally complete without any formal acknowledgment or 'attornment' from the tenant or other holder of a particular estate. In other words, the new owner of the interest acquires it automatically by the conveyance itself. However, a tenant or other holder is protected from being penalized for actions taken in good faith under the original grantor before receiving notice of the transfer.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-2, operators who sell or transfer a rental property interest should be aware that the conveyance is effective without requiring tenants to formally recognize the new owner. Compliant practice generally includes providing timely written notice of the ownership change to all tenants so that their obligations and protections are clearly established going forward. Failing to notify tenants of the conveyance can limit the new owner's ability to hold tenants accountable for acts performed in reliance on the prior ownership relationship.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-2 provides that a tenant cannot be penalized for actions taken in good faith under the original landlord if the tenant had not yet received notice of a property transfer. This means that payments made or obligations fulfilled under the prior owner, before notice of a conveyance was given, are generally protected. Tenants who believe they have been unfairly held liable for acts taken without notice of an ownership change may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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