Make a South Carolina Eviction Notice

What are the Components of a South Carolina Eviction Notice?

There are two basic types of South Carolina eviction notices. Both have the same basic components:

• The legal name(s) of the tenant(s) who signed the lease and are legally required to uphold its terms
• The address of the rental property
• The date the eviction notice was created
• How the eviction notice was served on the tenant (referred to as proof of service or certificate of service)
• The contact information of the landlord or property manager
• The printed name and signature of the landlord or property manager

South Carolina eviction notices are also known as a notice to quit. The number of days given to the tenant to correct the violation or vacate the property depends on the reason the eviction notice is issued. They also have specific additional components.

South Carolina 5-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Payment of Rent

A 5-day notice for non-payment of rent a South Carolina eviction notice used to inform the tenant that they did not pay their rent. The tenant is given five days to pay or leave the property. The notice should list:

• The full amount of rent due
• The date by which it must be paid

Landlords may also find it helpful to list acceptable forms of payment and where the rent may be paid. This notice is governed by § 27-40-710(b).

South Carolina 14-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance

A 14-day notice for non-compliance is used to inform the tenant that they violated the lease in some way and that they have 14 days to correct the violation or leave the property. The notice should:

• Explain the violation
• Give the date by which the tenant should leave if they choose to not comply

This notice is governed by § 27-40-710(a).

South Carolina Month-to-Month Lease Termination Letter – 30 Day Notice

A 30-day notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy isn’t an eviction notice in the true sense. The tenant doesn’t have to do anything wrong for the landlord to decide that they want to end the month-to-month tenancy. In fact, the tenant can also use this notice to tell the landlord that they do not plan to renew the month-to-month agreement. This notice should give the date by which the property should be vacant and returned to the custody of the landlord. This notice is governed by § 27-40-770(b).

Service of a South Carolina Eviction Notice

The tenant must be legally served. In South Carolina, this means that the tenant may be served by the landlord or a private process server or via certified mail with a return receipt requested. The Certificate of Service and the return receipt play an important role because they show the court that the landlord followed the law in the way that they served the tenant. A Certificate of Service should include the date of service, the name of the person that was served, how service took place, and it should have the signature of the person who served the eviction notice.

What are the Legal Considerations of a South Carolina Eviction Notice?

Before a landlord may file an ejectment lawsuit against a tenant for non-payment of rent or for violating the lease in another way, they must serve the tenant with an eviction notice. Then, the tenant must refuse to comply with the notice. Until the landlord is able to secure a court order for ejectment, they may not replace the locks, disconnect the utilities, or have the tenant’s belongings removed from the property. Doing so without a court order is illegal. It is known as a self-help eviction.

Landlords may not evict a tenant who reports code violations or uninhabitable conditions present on the property. That is known as retaliatory eviction. Landlords have a legal obligation to keep the property in good repair, up to code, and habitable.

Additionally, landlords must comply with both state and federal laws when it comes to housing. They may not evict a tenant because of the tenant’s country of origin, skin color, race, gender, family status, disability, or religion.

Illegal evictions can give the tenant a legal right to file a lawsuit against the landlord. The court may order the landlord to pay the tenant for what happened. The landlord may also be fined for breaking state and / or federal law.

Eviction Information for South Carolina Tenants

If you’re renting in South Carolina, you have both rights and obligations according to the law. You cannot be evicted because you report the property or the landlord to the housing authorities because of code violations or because the property is uninhabitable. You also may not be evicted because of your skin color, country of origin, race, gender, religion, disability, or family status. A landlord may not change the locks, disconnect the utilities, or toss your belongings out unless they have a court order.

Before the landlord may file an ejectment lawsuit against you, they must first legally serve you with an eviction notice. When you receive the eviction notice, you should read it carefully. It will tell you why the landlord has issued the notice, what you need to do, and when you need to take action. The notice should also give you contact information for the landlord, including a phone number. You can call the landlord if you have any questions about the eviction notice.

If you think that you’re a victim of illegal eviction, you should contact a landlord-tenant lawyer. They can let you know whether you have a legal claim that you can file against the landlord. You could be entitled to financial compensation. Another option is to reach out to the University of South Carolina Law Center and ask if they have a legal clinic. Legal clinics may provide affordable legal help to community members. You can also contact legal aid. If you qualify, legal aid may provide you with a lawyer. They also have various resources that tenants can use to help themselves.

Eviction Information for South Carolina Landlords

South Carolina landlords have a lot of responsibilities under both state and federal law. It’s important that landlords adhere to landlord-tenant law in South Carolina and avoid illegal evictions. Landlords cannot just file an ejectment lawsuit against the tenant. First, the tenant must be served with an eviction notice. Next, the tenant must refuse to comply with the notice. If those two key elements don’t occur, the landlord cannot file a lawsuit against the tenant. Landlords may not remove the property of the tenant, change the locks, or shut off the utilities unless they first get a court order. It’s illegal without the court order.

It’s also illegal for landlords to evict tenants based on any of the seven protected classes listed in The Fair Housing Act (which are listed under Legal Considerations above). They also may not evict tenants who report the property for code violations or uninhabitable conditions.

Landlords who practice illegal eviction methods of any kind may be sued by the tenant. The court could order the landlord to pay the tenant and they may also be fined for breaking state and / or federal law. If you’re a South Carolina landlord and you want to learn more about your rights and obligations, make sure that you schedule an appointment with a landlord-tenant lawyer who practices in the county where your rental property is located.