Legal Templates

Free South Carolina Residential Lease/Rental Agreement

Use our South Carolina Lease Agreement to rent out your property.

Updated November 6, 2020 | Legally reviewed by Susan Chai, Esq.

Table of Contents
  1. South Carolina Residential Lease Agreement Sample
  2. South Carolina Landlord and Tenant Laws

All 50 states are required by Federal law to include certain information in all Rental/Lease Agreements, including:

  1. The names and contact information of both landlord and tenant,
  2. The address of the premises,
  3. Pet provisions,
  4. Disclosures and information on lead-based hazards, mold, and other safety hazards,
  5. Security deposit specifics,

However, not all states will have identical leasing and rental requirements and may differ on some important issues.

As long as a state meets the Federal statutory minimum, then they are free to differ on certain requirements. It’s recommended you familiarize yourself with South Carolina’s specific laws and requirements to ensure your legal and financial rights are protected fully.

1. South Carolina Residential Lease Agreement Sample

The sample lease agreement below describes a contract between “Landlord” Andy Cohn and “Tenant” Tim Curtis. He agrees to rent a house in Charleston for $1,500 per month on a month-by-month basis. The tenant agrees to pay for all utilities and services for the Premises.

This is a good example of what provisions a simple lease agreement might contain, and how one should look in its final form.

South Carolina Lease Agreement Sample

2. South Carolina Landlord and Tenant Laws

South Carolina imposes specific and distinct requirements for landlords and tenants when executing a Lease/Rental Agreement. For example, South Carolina statutes provide for the following:

Security Deposit:

  1. A landlord is uncapped as to how much they may request from a tenant for a security deposit. (No statute)

Landlord Right of Entry:

  1. A landlord must give twenty-four (24) hours notice to the tenant before entering the premises and must only enter at reasonable hours. (§ 27-40-530(c))

Additionally, South Carolina law requires:

Utilities:

  1. A landlord is required to supply running water and a “reasonable amount” of hot water and heat at all hours. (§ 27-40-440)

Further Contact Details:

  1. A landlord must disclose in writing to the tenant the contact details of the owner of the property or agent authorized to act on behalf of the owner. (§ 27-40-420)

Additional Documents

Disclosure of Lead-Based Hazards

All South Carolina landlords of any building constructed before 1978 must notify all tenants of the potential existence of lead-based hazards. (Title 42 U.S. Code § 4852(d))

Notice of Abandoned Personal Property

If there is an unexplained absence of the tenant for more than fifteen (15) days after a default of rent payment, then there will be a presumed abandonment of the property. The landlord may then enter the premises and dispose of personal property with a total value less than $500. A landlord should attempt to notify all tenants of the presumed abandonment of personal property before proceeding with the disposal. (§ 27-40-730)

Security Deposit Notice

A landlord must return a security deposit and an itemized list of deductions, if any, to the tenant within thirty (30) days of the end of the lease. A tenant must provide in writing to the landlord the details of their new or forwarding address, otherwise they may forfeit their deposit. (§ 27-40-410(a))

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