South Carolina Retaliation protections

Is landlord retaliation illegal in South Carolina?

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