South Carolina Notice to enter

Related South Carolina rules

Lockouts and utility shutoffs

If a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes the tenant, or willfully interrupts essential services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease. In either case the tenant can recover three months' rent or twice actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.

Verified Source: S.C. Code § 27-40-660 · last checked 2026-10-27 · Full South Carolina lockouts and utility shutoffs page

Retaliation protections

A landlord may not raise rent above fair-market value, cut essential services, or sue for possession because the tenant complained to a code-enforcement agency about a health or safety violation or complained to the landlord about a violation of the Act. Exceptions: the landlord may still sue for possession if the tenant mainly caused the code violation, materially breached, or repairs would require major alteration or demolition, and a landlord of more than four adjoining units may raise rent uniformly (27-40-910(c)-(e)). A tenant who will raise retaliation as a defense must notify the landlord in writing within 10 days after service of the Rule to Vacate or Show Cause (910(f)).

Verified Source: S.C. Code § 27-40-910 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full South Carolina retaliation protections page

Repairs and habitability remedies

For a material noncompliance, the tenant may give written notice and end the lease if it is not fixed within 14 days, or sue for damages and an injunction. If essential services are not supplied, the tenant may buy them and deduct the cost from rent. The Act states that tenants may not make repairs and deduct the cost from rent.

Verified Source: S.C. Code §§ 27-40-610, 27-40-630 · last checked 2026-10-27 · Full South Carolina repairs and habitability remedies page

Rental inspections

No state statute creating a rental inspection program was found in S.C. Code chapter 27-40.

Verified Source: S.C. Code chapter 27-40 · last checked 2026-10-23 · Full South Carolina rental inspections page