Greenville has one of the highest numbers of evictions filed in South Carolina.

Let’s change that.

What is eviction?

An eviction is a legal process that allows a landlord to take possession of a unit back from the tenant due to a breach of agreement on the tenant’s part.

Realities of Renting In Greenville

Greenville County’s eviction rate is more than double that of the US as a whole (Princeton Eviction Lab). Once filed, an eviction stays on a tenant’s record forever, potentially limiting access to future housing.

61,820

renters

$1,007

average rent

20%

eviction filing rate

15,227

filings in the last year

Who Is Most Impacted By Eviction?

Minority populations are disproportionately impacted by eviction. (Eviction Lab)

4 in every 10 people
evicted are children

59% of filings are
placed against women

What It Costs Us

South Carolina could save more than $21 Million (Stout) on social safety net programs by investing in eviction prevention measures.

Negative Effects of Eviction

  • Health

    Evictions impact individual and family health. Studies have linked evictions to an increase of mental health hospitalizations as well as premature death, and adverse birth outcomes due to the stress an eviction causes upon mother and baby in utero.

  • Finances

    There is a strong correlation with the decrease in financial well-being as a result of eviction. Studies show evictions are linked to lower credit scores and financial health which leads to more homelessness. Landlords can lose as much as $5000-$8000 per unit in lost rent and eviction costs.

  • Education

    Reduced educational attainment, decreased standardized test scores, and school attendance are all impacts felt by students who have experienced evictions.

Room for Improvement

The current process for eviction in South Carolina is costly and complicated. It leaves renters and property owners stuck in a costly cycle. It’s time for a change.

Step 1:

Tenant does not pay rent, violates rental agreement, or holds over after end of lease term.
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Step 2:

Property owner provides written notice to vacate. If grounds for eviction is that lease term ended and lease is not month to month, landlord is not required to provide written notice. If lease says landlord can evict if tenant fails to pay rent, tenant would not get notice.
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Step 3:

Property owner files application for ejectment in magistrate court saying why tenant should be evicted.
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Step 4:

Magistrate issues a rule to vacate or show cause based on the allegation in the property owner’s application for ejection.

Step 5:

Magistrate’s constable or other process server serves rule on tenant. The server must make two attempts to serve in person. If both fail, then third attempt is via mail.

Step 6:

Tenant has 10 days to respond. If tenant does not vacate or contact the magistrate to request a hearing, they are in default and lose automatically.
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Step 7:

Tenant can vacate unit or contact the magistrate court within the 10 days to request a hearing. Tenant should request a hearing whether they intend to vacate or not.

Step 8:

At hearing, the property owner has the burden to prove the reason for eviction. The tenant must prove any defense they assert. If magistrate rules in favor of tenant, they are not evicted.
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Step 9:

If magistrate finds against tenant, magistrate issues writ of ejectment within five days.
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Step 10:

Tenant gets served with writ and has 24 hours to vacate.

Step 11:

If tenant does not vacate, law enforcement conducts physical set out.

Adapted from “Eviction in SC” by South Carolina Legal Services.

Eviction in Greenville County:
A Solution-Oriented Approach

With rising rents and a soaring eviction rate, we examine what eviction looks like in Greenville County, South Carolina, and some measures to help mitigate it, along with resources available to combat it for the most vulnerable in our community.

Video Perspectives

Explore perspectives on the impact eviction has on our community from a doctor, a business owner, an educator, individuals who have experienced evictions, and more in these short videos.