South Carolina (SC) lease form
South Carolina residential leases are governed by the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Title 27, Chapter 40 of the South Carolina Code of Laws. Landlords must include specific disclosures and comply with strict limits on what a lease may and may not require of tenants. Prohibited clauses are void and unenforceable, and deliberately including them can expose a landlord to damages of up to three months' rent plus attorney fees.
Revun generates a South Carolina-ready lease with the required disclosures and clauses built in, then handles e-signature, rent, and renewals on the same platform.
At or before the start of tenancy, landlords must disclose in writing the name and address of the property owner or a person authorized to act on the owner's behalf (SC Code Section 27-40-420). This disclosure must be kept current and applies to any successor landlord.
If the landlord reserves the right to enter for regularly scheduled services, that schedule must be conspicuously set forth in writing in the rental agreement itself (SC Code Section 27-40-530).
Leases may include, and courts encourage, a conspicuous notice stating that failure to pay rent within five days of the due date entitles the landlord to begin eviction proceedings (SC Code Section 27-40-710).
For any dwelling built before 1978, federal law (42 U.S.C. Section 4852d) requires landlords to disclose known lead-based paint hazards, provide the EPA pamphlet 'Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home,' and attach a signed acknowledgment to the lease.
While not expressly mandated by statute, documenting the unit's condition at move-in is strongly tied to the landlord's obligation to maintain premises under Section 27-40-440 and directly affects security deposit disputes.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, SC Code Title 27, Chapter 40. Confirm current requirements or consult an attorney before finalizing a lease.
South Carolina lease FAQ
Landlords must disclose the owner's name and address (or an authorized agent's) before or at the start of tenancy under SC Code Section 27-40-420. Any pre-1978 property also requires a federal lead-based paint disclosure with the EPA pamphlet and a signed acknowledgment attached to the lease.
Under SC Code Section 27-40-330, landlords cannot include clauses that waive the tenant's statutory rights, authorize confessions of judgment, or limit the landlord's liability for legal violations. Attempting to enforce such clauses can result in damages up to three months' rent plus attorney fees.
South Carolina law does not require a written lease for month-to-month tenancies, but the landlord identity disclosure and any entry schedule must be in writing. A written lease is strongly advisable because oral agreements are difficult to enforce and leave key terms ambiguous.
Yes. South Carolina does not cap late fees by statute, but the fee must be specified in the written lease and courts may scrutinize fees that appear punitive rather than compensatory. Pairing the late fee with the five-day nonpayment notice language from Section 27-40-710 is best practice.
