First & last months rent, No Lease signed

[John Oconnor]

Hey everyone,

I am sorry for bothering everyone, but I am trying to find an answer to a question of mine that a friend is going through.  She has been through a lot after she had a kid with her bf, he got into drugs and booze and stepped out on her.  He made all the money, so now she is holding down three part time jobs to make the ends meet and has to move out of her apt into something in the $600 price range.  So she found a house based on a recommendation from someone at her church and was in a hurry and put her first months & last months rent (never stated it was a deposit), app fee, and pet deposit down.  The total came to $1700.  She paid with a cashiers check from her bank and did not sign a lease & no documentation was ever provided / signed.  Since there was a tenant she did not see the inside of the house. 

After seeing the inside, there was quite of bit of mold, no heat, cracked windows, widows sealed shut, and other things.  She did not feel comfortable moving her 1 year old son into the house so she called the property manager and said she wants her money back but for their troubles would only ask for 1600 of the 1700 back.  The property manager said we don't have to give you anything.  What are the laws in North Carolina governing this matter?  Everything I found online was so hit or miss, one response would be he has to give everything back, the next would be no he doesn't.  She is in need of the money to get another apartment.

Thank you all for your help. 

John