South Carolina Lease Agreement Templates (6)

A South Carolina lease agreement is a formal contract between a landlord and a tenant for renting a property in South Carolina. This is a legal document and covers the rental terms, such as the rent amount, duration, and any rules or regulations that both parties must sign and adhere to. It is crucial for both landlords and tenants to carefully review and understand the terms of the lease agreement before signing to ensure a smooth rental experience.

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Last updated July 8th, 2024

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A South Carolina lease agreement is a formal contract between a landlord and a tenant for renting a property in South Carolina. This is a legal document and covers the rental terms, such as the rent amount, duration, and any rules or regulations that both parties must sign and adhere to. It is crucial for both landlords and tenants to carefully review and understand the terms of the lease agreement before signing to ensure a smooth rental experience.

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By Type (6)

Standard Lease Agreement – A typical lease in which a tenant rents a property from a landlord for a set period of time—usually 12 months.
Commercial Lease Agreement –  A lease between a business and a landlord for office, retail, or industrial building use.
Month-to-Month Lease Agreement – A renewable lease that re-starts every month and can end with a 30-day notice from the landlord or tenant.
Rent-to-Own Agreement – The landlord may sell their property to the renter after the lease ends.
Roommate Agreement – This agreement is for two people living together in a shared space and lays out their duties and responsibilities.
Sublease Agreement – With the landlord’s permission, a tenant can rent out all or part of their unit to another tenant.

Disclosures (3)

Lead-Based Paint Disclosure – For any property built before 1978, the landlord must inform the renter of any known presence of lead paint. (EPA/HUD Fact Sheet)

Landlord’s Contact Details – The original lease agreement must include the property manager’s or owner’s name and address. (§ 27-40-420(a))

Unequal Deposits (conditional) – A landlord with four or more adjoining units must disclose the security deposit amounts if they differ in the lease agreement. (§ 27-40-410(c))

Security Deposit

Maximum Amount – In South Carolina, a landlord may charge whatever they want for a security deposit with no minimum or maximum.

Returning to Tenant – A tenant must receive their security deposit within 30 days of the lease’s end. (§ 27-40-410(a))

  • Itemized List – The landlord must provide the tenant with a list of any damages or deductions taken from the deposit within 30 days of the lease end. (§ 27-40-410(a))

Collecting Interest – No South Carolina laws dictate what a landlord can do with the interest on a security deposit.

Separate Bank Account – No laws state whether the lease’s security deposit needs to be in a separate bank account.

Landlord Access

General Access – If the landlord needs to gain access to the rented property, then a 24-hour notice must be given at a reasonable time. (§ 27-40-530(c))

Emergency Access – In an emergency, the landlord can enter his or her property without the tenant’s consent. (§ 27-40-530(b)(1))

Paying Rent

Grace Period – The rent must be paid on time without any grace period. A landlord may charge late fees if the rent is not paid on time. (§ 27-40-310(c))

Maximum Late Fee – No laws state the maximum fee a landlord may charge a tenant in South Carolina.

Returned Checks (NSF) – Writing a bad rent check may result in a maximum $30 fine from the landlord. (§ 34-11-70(a))

Withholding Rent – If the tenant has an issue that was not remedied by the landlord after notification, they may fix it themselves and deduct the costs from the rent. (§ 27-40-630(a))

Reasons for Eviction (4)

Non-Payment of Rent – Nonpayment of rent may result in a 5-day notice to quit or pay served by the landlord. (§ 27-40-710(b))

Non-Compliance – Failure to comply with the lease agreement terms may result in a 14-day notice to quit or comply. § 27-40-710(a))

Lockouts – Without a court order, the landlord may not lock out or change the locks on a renter. (§ 27-40-660)

Leaving Before the End Date—The tenant is responsible for paying all rent until the end of the lease, even if they abandon the property. (§ 27-30-50) If they abandon the property, the landlord must try to re-rent it.  (§ 27-40-730(c)