A Real-World Breakdown of South Carolina’s Landlord-Tenant Rules

[Corey Goldstein]

In this business, whether you’re renting out a duplex in Columbia or a room in Rock Hill, one thing stays the same: you need to understand the law—cold.

As someone who’s built my career managing, developing, and investing in property across South Carolina, I’ve seen what happens when landlords guess, tenants overstep, and managers fail to run things by the book. It’s ugly, expensive, and almost always avoidable.

So let’s strip out the legal fluff and get to what matters. Here’s how the South Carolina Landlord-Tenant Act actually plays out in the real world.

For Tenants: Rights AND Responsibilities

Tenants have obligations. Period. Doesn’t matter if you’re renting a luxury loft or a small studio. Here’s what the law expects:

Pay your rent—on time.

Keep the unit clean and safe.

Don’t damage the property or disturb others.

Use appliances and utilities as intended.

Give proper access when requested for inspections or repairs.

Landlords must give 24 hours' notice to enter (except in emergencies), and they’re expected to be reasonable about timing.

Now, if your landlord fails to fix serious issues (leaks, mold, no heat), here’s what you can do:

Give written notice.

Give 14 days to fix it.

If they ignore it, you can break the lease or sue for damages.

What you can’t do: withhold rent or make repairs and deduct the cost—unless you have written permission.

And when your lease ends? You want your deposit back? Give a forwarding address in writing. No address, no check.

For Landlords: Rights Come With Responsibilities too many landlords think the lease gives them a free pass. It doesn’t.

Here’s what SC law says you must do—no matter what the lease says:

Keep the unit safe, clean, and livable.

Maintain HVAC, plumbing, electrical, and appliances—unless the lease clearly shifts that burden.

Provide heat, hot water, and running water (again, unless legally excluded).

Maintain common areas in buildings with 4+ units.

Want to access the unit? Unless it’s an emergency, give 24 hours’ notice and show up at a reasonable time.

End of Lease: Handle Deposits Like a Pro

You have 30 days to return the deposit—or send an itemized breakdown of what you deducted.

If the tenant ghosted? Still try. Keep records. Courts want to see effort.

Evictions in South Carolina: There’s a Process

You can’t just change the locks or dump someone’s stuff at the curb. You need to follow legal steps or risk a lawsuit of your own.

You can evict for:

Nonpayment of Rent: After a 5-day notice (unless waived in the lease).

Lease Violations: Give 14 days to fix. If not, you can file.

Unsafe Conditions Caused by Tenant: Same rule—14 days unless it’s urgent.

Abandonment: No rent or contact for 15+ days? You can legally reclaim the unit.

End of Lease: If they won’t leave, file for possession.

For weekly leases: give 7 days’ notice. Month-to-month? 30 days.

Once the lease is legally ended, you can sue for damages—and if the tenant acted in bad faith, you can go after attorney’s fees too.

Final Take: Manage Smart or Pay Later

Whether you’re a landlord trying to protect your property or a tenant trying to protect your rights—the law is the law.

As a property manager, I’ve seen solid owners lose big just because they didn’t understand their responsibilities. I’ve also seen tenants get taken advantage of by landlords who didn’t think the rules applied to them.

Smart property management isn’t about being aggressive or soft—it’s about being legal, consistent, and fair.