How to become a landlord in South Carolina

At or before the start of the tenancy, disclose in writing the name and address of an owner of the premises or of an agent authorized to act for the owner, including for service of process and receiving notices (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-420 (a)).

• If you rent more than four adjoining units and use different deposit standards, post or give each prospective tenant a statement of those standards before the lease is made (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410 (c)).See Security deposit limit on the South Carolina page
• A lease may carry the statute's conspicuous IF YOU DO NOT PAY YOUR RENT ON TIME provision in place of a separate nonpayment notice (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-710 (B)).See Notice for unpaid rent on the South Carolina page
• Entry for regularly scheduled services without 24 hours' notice requires a conspicuous written lease term (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-530 (b)(2)).See Landlord entry on the South Carolina page

At or before the start of the tenancy, give the tenant in writing the name and address of an owner or of an agent authorized to act for the owner, including for service of process and receiving notices and demands. Keep it current; it binds any successor landlord, owner or manager (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-420 (a), (b)).

• A person who signs a lease for you without making the disclosure becomes your agent for service of process and notices, and for performing your duties with the rent that person collects (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-420 (c)).
• A landlord who lives out of state, or a corporation not authorized here, may designate a South Carolina agent for service by filing with the Secretary of State; without one, process may be served on the Secretary of State (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-130 (b)).

The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act requires no flood zone or flood history disclosure to tenants (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 27-40-10 to 27-40-940).

The Act has no smoke alarm provision of its own. It requires you to comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety; the state and local codes that may require smoke alarms were not read for this page (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 27-40-10 to 27-40-940; S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-440 (a)(1)).

The Act sets no lock, deadbolt or rekeying requirement for landlords. A tenant may not change the locks without your permission (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 27-40-10 to 27-40-940; S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-530 (e)).

South Carolina sets no maximum on a security deposit. The Act defines a security deposit as money the tenant gives you that you hold in trust to secure the tenant's full performance of the lease (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 27-40-10 to 27-40-940; S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-210 (18)).

• If you rent more than four adjoining units on the premises and use different standards to calculate deposits for different tenants, you must, before the lease is made, post the standards in a conspicuous place on the premises or where rent is paid, or give each prospective tenant a written statement of them (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410 (c)).
• If you skip that statement, the part of a tenant's deposit above the lowest deposit you charge for a comparable unit on the premises cannot be applied to damage the tenant caused (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410 (c)).

The Act does not require a separate or interest-bearing account and does not require you to pay interest on a deposit. It does say the deposit is held in trust (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 27-40-10 to 27-40-940; S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-210 (18)).

The Act requires no move-in inspection, checklist or condition report. At the start of the term you must deliver possession in compliance with the lease and your duty to keep the home fit and habitable (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 27-40-10 to 27-40-940; S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-430).

The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act sets no limit on application or screening fees and no refund rule for them (S.C. Code Ann. §§ 27-40-10 to 27-40-940).

• South Carolina's fair housing law lets an application ask the number, ages, sex and family relationship of the applicants and intended occupants, and whether an intended occupant was convicted of illegally making or distributing a controlled substance (S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-70 (L)).See Fair housing on the South Carolina page