In this case, the tenant is really being put into a bind and doesn't know it. LL is selling house. Has offer but countered so nothing firm. Has NOT given tenant notice to vacate - very up in the air.

She feels herself to be in limbo, not knowing when she has to vacate or even if she has to vacate. She thought if they get a contract she has to be out with 30 days notice of the contract ratification.

Nope.

In NC, on a month to month lease, 7 days notice is required prior to the beginning of next rent cycle, so October 25th if they want her out by end of November, and if notice is not given by then she has until end of December.

As a practical matter, I would still give 30 days even if only 7 is required. Most folks will not react that fast and I think it just sets up a situation that is no good for anyone and may end up being very expensive for the LL.

Here's a situation were the Landlord is creating a problem for himself AND the next owner. WHY??? Because present LL is not communicating with tenant. Like SID of MO said it can become a not so good situation for the LL from the stand point the tenant could do damages or not pay rent and become vindictive with the present LL. Of course this is stupid on Tenants part but it's not good business practice on the part of the LL to keep the tenant in the dark. In part like SID of MO said she should have wanted a years lease or move or bought a house.

WMH of NC I guess at this point your vacancy is not ready. Have the tenant call her LL and asked him IF she can stay until December 31st, she will vacate premises. OR have the tenant send landlord a registered letter telling him she will vacate the premise by December 31, 2017. Then let the chips fall where they may.

Communications is a KEY FACTOR in this situation for both Landlord and Tenant.

You know, I might be wrong. I have always thought that 7 days was all that was required, then read that it had to be 7 days before next rent cycle. But reading the law again, I'm back to believing it's 7 days. Period. (On a month to month.)

What says the brain trust here?

"§ 42-14. Notice to quit in certain tenancies.

A tenancy from year to year may be terminated by a notice to quit given one month or more before the end of the current year of the tenancy; a tenancy from month to month by a like notice of seven days; a tenancy from week to week, of two days."

I think it is just 7 days.

It annoys me when people won't communicate. It's just common decency and truthfulness the way I see it.

The little house I just bought: the long-term tenants had no idea what was going on or where they stood (I found out when I went to view the house) so I explained the process to them. I assured them if I bought it, they had no worries and would stay there like they wanted, however (since they were on a verbal m2m agreement) they could be given 30 days notice once it was sold.