South Carolina · Renters' rights · Updated Oct 2026
South Carolina tenant rights
Security deposits, repairs, landlord entry, notices and evictions in South Carolina, in plain English from official sources, with free tools to get your deposit back and ask for repairs.
Guides for South Carolina renters
Security deposit
Limit, deadline, deductions, penalty and the calculator.
Repairs
The landlord's duty, repair and deduct, withholding rent and a repair letter.
Eviction
Notice periods, court deadlines, illegal lockouts and a timeline tool.
Security deposit in South Carolina
- Limit
- No statewide limit.
- Deadline to return it
- Within 30 days after the later of: the tenancy ends and you give back possession, or you ask for the deposit. Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing. If you don't, you lose the right to the extra (triple) damages if the landlord had no other way to know where you went and mailed the notice and refund to your last known address.
- Itemized list
- Yes. Deductions must be itemized in a written notice sent with any refund within the 30 days. Receipts are not required by the law.
- What may be deducted
- Unpaid rent and damages caused by your failure to meet your duties as a tenant (for example, damage beyond normal use, not keeping the unit clean and safe). In complexes with more than 4 units, if the landlord charges different tenants different deposits without posting the standards, the extra part can't be used for damages.
- Interest
- No statute requires interest.
- If the landlord keeps it wrongly
- Three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney fees.
How to get your deposit back
- Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
- Give your landlord your new address in writing. In South Carolina: Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing.
- Wait for the deadline: Within 30 days after the later of: the tenancy ends and you give back possession, or you ask for the deposit.
- If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
- If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $7,500 in Magistrate Court. Small claims court in South Carolina on Small Claims Map
Repairs in South Carolina
- The landlord's duty
- The landlord must follow building and housing codes, make repairs needed to keep the home fit and habitable, keep common areas reasonably safe, supply running water, reasonable hot water and heat, and keep electrical, gas, plumbing, heating, air-conditioning and supplied appliances in good working order. Appliances in the unit are presumed supplied by the landlord unless the lease excludes them. S.C. Code § 27-40-440.
- How to ask for repairs
- Give the landlord written notice describing the problem. For serious problems you may give a 14-day written notice: if the landlord doesn't fix it within 14 days, the lease ends on the date in the notice. You may also sue for damages.
- Repair and deduct
- Not allowed for repairs. The law says tenants may not make repairs and deduct the cost from rent. The only exception: if the landlord fails to provide essential services (water, hot water, heat, electricity, gas, plumbing/sewer), after written notice you may buy reasonable amounts of the service and deduct that cost, or sue for reduced rent value. S.C. Code § 27-40-630.
- Withholding rent
- No right to withhold rent. If sued for unpaid rent, you can raise the landlord's violations as a defense or counterclaim only if the landlord had notice at least 14 days before rent was due (or, for essential services, in time to make emergency repairs). S.C. Code § 27-40-640.
- Law
- S.C. Code §§ 27-40-440, 27-40-610, 27-40-630, 27-40-640
Landlord entry in South Carolina
At least 24 hours' notice, and entry only at reasonable times. Exceptions: emergencies (including coming dangerous weather); regularly scheduled services such as pest control or filter changes between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. if the lease says so and the landlord announces entry; and repairs you asked for, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., after announcing. S.C. Code § 27-40-530.
Eviction in South Carolina
- Notice for unpaid rent
- 5 days. If rent isn't paid within 5 days of the due date, the landlord can end the lease after giving written notice. Warning: only one notice is needed for the whole lease, and if your written lease contains the 'IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR RENT ON TIME' paragraph, that counts as the notice and you will get no other warning.
- Notice for a lease violation
- 14-day written notice to fix (cure) the problem; if you fix it in time, or start in good faith and finish within a reasonable time, the lease doesn't end.
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- At least 30 days' written notice by landlord or tenant. Week-to-week: 7 days.
- Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
- The magistrate issues a 'Rule to Vacate or Show Cause.' You have 10 days after it is served to ask for a hearing; if you don't, you can be evicted without one.
- Lockouts and utility shutoffs
- Yes. If the landlord locks you out or cuts off essential services, you can get back in or end the lease and recover three months' rent or twice your actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees.
- Court self-help
- The court's eviction self-help page
- Law
- S.C. Code §§ 27-40-660, 27-40-710, 27-40-770; § 27-37-20
Rent increases and rent control in South Carolina
- Notice of a rent increase
- No statute sets a rent increase notice. For month-to-month tenancies, a change in practice comes with the 30-day notice needed to end the tenancy.
- Rent control
- No statewide rent control or rent cap.
Late fees in South Carolina
No statute caps late fees. Under the Act, 'rent' includes late charges.
Retaliation in South Carolina
The landlord may not raise rent above fair-market value, cut essential services, or file for eviction because you complained to a code agency or complained to the landlord about violations. You can use it as a defense and get the lockout remedies. Warning: if your defense has no merit, you may owe the landlord's attorney fees, and up to 3 months' rent or triple damages if raised in bad faith. No presumption period. S.C. Code § 27-40-910.
Small claims court in South Carolina
Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer.
Limit: $7,500 in Magistrate Court.
Where to get free help in South Carolina
Good to know in South Carolina
- Check your lease for the 'IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR RENT ON TIME' paragraph: if it is there, the landlord can file for eviction 5 days after rent is due without any other notice.
- South Carolina bans repair-and-deduct, except for buying essential services like water or heat that the landlord failed to provide.
- Since May 18, 2026, a domestic violence victim with a restraining order, protection order or conviction can end the lease with 30 days' written notice, given within 60 days of the incident.
Recent law changes
2026 Act No. 184 (H.3569), effective May 18, 2026, added § 27-40-350: 'protected tenants' (domestic violence victims where both people are on the lease) can end their lease within 60 days of a documented incident without penalty.
Free tools for South Carolina renters
Pre-set for South Carolina. They run in your browser and send nothing.
Deposit return calculator for South Carolina
Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Security deposit demand letter for South Carolina
A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.
Repair request letter for South Carolina
Ask your landlord in writing to fix the problem by a date. A written, dated request is the first step in almost every state, and it is proof that the landlord knew. Check the problems, add dates, then download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it). Sign it, keep a copy and photos, and send it in a way you can prove.
Eviction notice timeline for South Carolina
Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.
This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.
Questions about renters' rights in South Carolina
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in South Carolina?
No statewide limit.
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in South Carolina?
Within 30 days after the later of: the tenancy ends and you give back possession, or you ask for the deposit. Give the landlord your forwarding address in writing. If you don't, you lose the right to the extra (triple) damages if the landlord had no other way to know where you went and mailed the notice and refund to your last known address.
What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in South Carolina?
Three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus reasonable attorney fees.
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in South Carolina?
Unpaid rent and damages caused by your failure to meet your duties as a tenant (for example, damage beyond normal use, not keeping the unit clean and safe). In complexes with more than 4 units, if the landlord charges different tenants different deposits without posting the standards, the extra part can't be used for damages.
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in South Carolina?
No statute requires interest.
How do I ask my landlord for repairs in South Carolina?
Give the landlord written notice describing the problem. For serious problems you may give a 14-day written notice: if the landlord doesn't fix it within 14 days, the lease ends on the date in the notice. You may also sue for damages.
Can I repair and deduct the cost from rent in South Carolina?
Not allowed for repairs. The law says tenants may not make repairs and deduct the cost from rent. The only exception: if the landlord fails to provide essential services (water, hot water, heat, electricity, gas, plumbing/sewer), after written notice you may buy reasonable amounts of the service and deduct that cost, or sue for reduced rent value. S.C. Code § 27-40-630.
Can I withhold rent for repairs in South Carolina?
No right to withhold rent. If sued for unpaid rent, you can raise the landlord's violations as a defense or counterclaim only if the landlord had notice at least 14 days before rent was due (or, for essential services, in time to make emergency repairs). S.C. Code § 27-40-640.
How much notice does a landlord need to enter in South Carolina?
At least 24 hours' notice, and entry only at reasonable times. Exceptions: emergencies (including coming dangerous weather); regularly scheduled services such as pest control or filter changes between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. if the lease says so and the landlord announces entry; and repairs you asked for, between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m., after announcing. S.C. Code § 27-40-530.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in South Carolina?
5 days. If rent isn't paid within 5 days of the due date, the landlord can end the lease after giving written notice. Warning: only one notice is needed for the whole lease, and if your written lease contains the 'IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR RENT ON TIME' paragraph, that counts as the notice and you will get no other warning.
How much notice for a lease violation in South Carolina?
14-day written notice to fix (cure) the problem; if you fix it in time, or start in good faith and finish within a reasonable time, the lease doesn't end.
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in South Carolina?
At least 30 days' written notice by landlord or tenant. Week-to-week: 7 days.
How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in South Carolina?
The magistrate issues a 'Rule to Vacate or Show Cause.' You have 10 days after it is served to ask for a hearing; if you don't, you can be evicted without one.
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in South Carolina?
Yes. If the landlord locks you out or cuts off essential services, you can get back in or end the lease and recover three months' rent or twice your actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney fees.
How much notice is needed for a rent increase in South Carolina?
No statute sets a rent increase notice. For month-to-month tenancies, a change in practice comes with the 30-day notice needed to end the tenancy.
Is there rent control in South Carolina?
No statewide rent control or rent cap.
Is there a limit on late fees in South Carolina?
No statute caps late fees. Under the Act, 'rent' includes late charges.
Can my landlord retaliate if I complain in South Carolina?
The landlord may not raise rent above fair-market value, cut essential services, or file for eviction because you complained to a code agency or complained to the landlord about violations. You can use it as a defense and get the lockout remedies. Warning: if your defense has no merit, you may owe the landlord's attorney fees, and up to 3 months' rent or triple damages if raised in bad faith. No presumption period. S.C. Code § 27-40-910.
What is the small claims limit in South Carolina?
$7,500 in Magistrate Court.