N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-345: Life tenant recovers from remainderman.

If the plaintiff claims only an estate for life in the land recovered and pays any sum allowed to the defendant for improvements, he or his personal representative may recover at the determination of his estate from the remainderman or reversioner, the value of the said improvements as they then exist, not exceeding the amount as paid by him, and he has a lien therefor on the premises as if they had been mortgaged for the payment thereof, and may keep possession of said premises until it is paid. (1871-2, c. 147, s. 8; Code, s. 480; Rev., s. 659; C.S., s. 704.)