Understanding South Carolina’s High Eviction Filing Rates — A Landlord’s Perspective

[Corey Goldstein]

By Revaya | Property Management in South Carolina

Let’s talk facts, not headlines. According to March 2024 data, South Carolina leads the nation with a 20% eviction filing rate — that’s more than double the national average of 7.8%. In just one month, local courts across the state processed over 8,800 eviction filings.

Now before we jump to conclusions, it’s important to understand what this actually means from the perspective of those of us in the trenches — the landlords, the property managers, the people who are keeping the roof over people’s heads while trying to run a sustainable business.

Filing ≠ Ejecting

First off, an eviction filing is not an automatic removal. It’s simply the legal step a landlord must take when a tenant is in breach — usually for nonpayment of rent, but sometimes for other violations. A judge still has to rule on the matter. It’s a legal safeguard — not a hammer.

Where Are the Filings Happening?

Data shows urban counties file more frequently:

• Metro counties: 22% filing rate
• Rural counties: 18% filing rate

But the variation is wide. Dillon County, for instance, has a staggering 38% filing rate — that’s nearly double the state average. That’s not a landlord problem — that’s an economic and housing supply issue in a concentrated market.

Why the High Numbers?

Critics point to South Carolina’s $40 eviction filing fee, one of the lowest in the country. They argue this encourages landlords to file more frequently, even suggesting it's used as a "rent collection tool."

Let me be clear — no professional landlord wants to file an eviction. It’s time-consuming, costly (in more ways than one), and usually a last resort. But the reality is, without effective remedies and timely enforcement of lease agreements, small landlords — and even larger operators — can’t stay in business.

In markets like California, where filing fees start at $240 and processes drag out for months, the result is predictable: landlords exit the market, supply shrinks, rents climb. South Carolina’s system, while not perfect, at least allows for some level of enforcement that protects the long-term viability of rental housing.

What’s Really Going On

What we’re seeing is not exploitation — it’s the result of structural affordability issues, rising operating costs, and a growing disconnect between housing policy and economic reality. When a tenant doesn’t pay rent, that property still carries insurance, taxes, maintenance, and financing costs.

Landlords aren’t hedge funds — they’re often mom-and-pop investors trying to stay afloat.

Instead of vilifying landlords for using legal tools at their disposal, we should be having a broader conversation:

• How do we encourage consistent rent payment?
• How do we balance tenant protections with investor and owner protections?
• And how do we grow the supply of quality, attainable housing without punishing the people willing to build and manage it?

South Carolina’s numbers may seem high — but they reflect deeper economic truths that no filing fee tweak is going to solve.