NC S488

Requires landlords with actual knowledge that a tenant is an attorney to provide notice to the North Carolina State Bar at least 15 days before destroying or discarding potentially confidential materials (client files, trust accounts, client matter records) remaining after obtaining possession of premises.

Allows the State Bar or its designee to take possession of potentially confidential materials at its own expense within the 15-day notice period without a court order, and protects landlords from liability for cooperating with the State Bar.

Extends the notice requirement to nonresidential property including storage and self-storage spaces, and prohibits potentially confidential materials from being subject to landlord liens.

Clarifies that a "covered lease agreement" under the homeowner-buyer protection act includes residential leases where rental payments are applied toward the purchase price of the property.

Modifies remedies provisions in the homeowner and homebuyer protection chapters to clarify that violations may constitute unfair trade practices under G.S. 75-1.1, while exempting individual homeowners selling their primary residence directly to buyers or option purchasers from such liability (effective October 1, 2011).