South Carolina rent increase law

The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act sets no notice period or limit for a rent increase on a house or apartment, and cities and counties may not regulate private rents. For a manufactured home park lot, the owner must give at least 30 days' notice before a new rental rate takes effect when the tenancy continues past its original term. A month-to-month tenancy can be ended on 30 days' written notice.

S.C. Code Ann. §§ 27-40-10 to 27-40-940 S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-770 (b) S.C. Code Ann. § 27-39-60 S.C. Code Ann. § 27-47-420

• You may not raise rent above fair market value in retaliation for a code complaint to a government agency or a complaint to you about a violation of the Act. S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910 (a) See Retaliation on the South Carolina page
• For a manufactured home park lot whose tenancy continues past the original term, give the resident at least 30 days' notice before the new rental rate takes effect. S.C. Code Ann. § 27-47-420

No county or city may enact or enforce an ordinance that regulates the amount of rent for privately owned residential or commercial rental property. Local governments may still regulate their own property and make rent agreements with private owners.

S.C. Code Ann. § 27-39-60

You may not raise rent above fair market value, cut essential services or sue for possession in retaliation because the tenant complained to a government code agency about a health and safety violation or complained to you about a violation of the Act. The Act sets no time window for this protection.

S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910 (a)

• A landlord who retaliates owes up to three months' rent or three times the tenant's actual damages, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney's fees. S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910 (h)
• A tenant who wants to raise retaliation as a defense in an eviction must notify you in writing within 10 days after service of the Rule to Vacate or Show Cause. A meritless defense entitles you to attorney's fees, and one raised in bad faith can cost the tenant up to three months' rent or three times your actual damages. S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910 (b), (f)
• You may still sue for possession if the code violation was caused mainly by the tenant's lack of care, the tenant is in material noncompliance, or the needed repairs would effectively deprive the tenant of the home. S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910 (c)
• If you rent more than four adjoining units, a rent increase that applies uniformly to all tenants, or that stays within fair market value, carries no presumption of retaliation. S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910 (e)
• If you retaliate by refusing to renew and the tenant is current on rent, you may not recover possession for 75 days, when the tenant proves your violation and your notice of it and of the complaint before the lease expired. S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-910 (g)