Eviction resources for renters in Greenville.
What can I do if I’m getting evicted?
If you’re being evicted in Greenville County, you have options. Here are some key resources to help.
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The quicker you respond, the greater your chances of getting connected to the resources you need.
Communicate with your landlord about why your rent is late and ask if you can have more time.
Contact Greenville County Human Relations Commission to talk to a housing counselor.
Office: (864) 467-7095
Toll-Free: 1 (866) 495-3918Take a short survey to see if you qualify for free legal assistance from SC Legal Services or call 1 (888) 346-5592.
Watch SC Legal’s Introduction to Evictions videos. These short videos cover key parts of the eviction process.
Read SC Appleseeds “All About Evictions”
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What Are My Rights As a Tenant?
Contact Greenville County Human Relations Commission:
Office: 864.467.7095
Toll-Free: 1 (866) 495.3918Email - (who should this be?)
What Are My Responsibilities As A Tenant?
Pay rent on the date it is due.
Do not harm the landlord’s property or disturb the other tenants.
Do your part to keep the unit safe and clean.
Be responsible for your guests’ actions.
What are My Landlord’s responsibilities?
South Carolina law says a landlord has to make all repairs to the property that are necessary to keep it in a safe and livable condition. This includes:
Keep the property in a “fit and habitable” condition.
Keep common areas of the property safe (like hallways, shared yards, etc.).
Make running hot and cold water and heat available.
Keep all electrical, gas, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning, and other appliances in good and safe working order.
Learn more about Landlord-Tenant Law in SC HERE
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Call 211 and describe your situation so that you can be directed to the help you need in Greenville County, including rent and utility assistance.
Find organizations that offer rental assistance in GHA’s online resource guide.
Self-Help Credit Union offers low-interest short-term loans as a safer alternative to payday loans.
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The eviction process in South Carolina is complicated and difficult to navigate alone. Knowing what to expect can help you along in the journey.
To see if you qualify for free legal assistance from SC Legal Services call 1 (888) 346-5592.
What can I do if my landlord won’t make repairs?
For more information, visit SC Legal Services
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Tenants who are struggling to get their landlord to make repairs, especially repairs materially affecting the health and safety or physical condition of their property, should send their landlord a letter regarding the landlord’s duty to fix the property (per SC Code Ann. § 27-40-610).
This is called a 14 Day Letter. Get more information about the 14 day letter HERE.
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No. You still have to pay all of your rent on time as long as you have your lease. If you don’t, your landlord may have the right to have you evicted from the property even if they have not made repairs.
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The law does not allow you to move out if the problems are not very serious. Your landlord does still need to make repairs. If they don’t, you can take them to Magistrate’s Court and ask the court to order them to make repairs.
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You should contact a lawyer who can help you with your situation. All cases are different. If you live in government assisted housing, you may have more rights than discussed here.
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You generally cannot move out if you caused the damage. In most cases, you have to pay for damage caused by you, your family, or your guests.
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If the appliance came with the property and doesn’t belong to you, generally your landlord has to keep it working. Your lease may say that there are some appliances your landlord doesn’t have to fix, but this can’t include appliances that are necessary to provide essential services like plumbing or sewer, running water, hot water, heat, etc.
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Talk to a lawyer as soon as possible; especially if you have been served with legal papers. A landlord is not permitted to retaliate against you for trying to get them to make repairs, but if you are going to claim that this is what’s happening, your landlord has to be notified that you’re going to do this.
Why can I be evicted?
Here’s a list of the top three reasons a renter can be evicted.
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If you don’t pay your rent on time, your landlord can give you a written notice that says if you don’t pay your rent within 5 days, they may try to evict you. This notice can be in your lease. If it is, your landlord doesn’t have to give you another notice.
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If your landlord thinks you have broken rules in your lease (such as unauthorized guests or property damage caused by the tenant) they usually have to give you a written notice giving you 14 days to correct the problem. If you don’t, your landlord can try to have you evicted.
Important: The law doesn’t allow you to stop paying your rent because your landlord won’t make repairs and normally doesn’t let you use part of your rent to make the repairs yourself!
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If your lease comes to an end and you don’t move out, your landlord can try to have you evicted.
Under South Carolina state law, this grounds for eviction does not apply for most, but not all, federally subsidized housing. For most federally subsidized housing, leases must be renewed at the end of a lease term unless the landlord has good cause not to renew, such as nonpayment or one substantial (or several repeated) minor violation(s). People with subsidized housing should check with a lawyer, as different programs have different requirements.
For more information view SC Legal Services Eviction Brochure.
What if my rental situation is different?
Life looks different for everyone. If you live in public housing or have a non-traditional rental situation, SC Legal has some resources that can help.
Public Housing
Non-Traditional Rentals
Mobile Homes, Rent-To-Own & Hotels.