Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in South Carolina?
No. In South Carolina, a landlord may not retaliate by raising the rent above fair market value, cutting essential services, or bringing an eviction after a tenant complains to a code agency or to the landlord about a violation of the landlord-tenant act. A tenant who will raise the defense must tell the landlord in writing within ten days after being served, and a landlord who refuses to renew in retaliation may not recover possession for 75 days. Separately, the federal Fair Housing Act makes it unlawful to threaten or interfere with anyone for exercising fair housing rights. This is S.C. Code § 27-40-910.
| What | South Carolina |
|---|---|
| Retaliation by a landlord | Prohibited by statute |
| Time period in the statute | Prohibited; no set period |
| How the period works | No period; the tenant proves retaliation |
Source
S.C. Code § 27-40-910
Read the statute in the South Carolina Code of Laws (South Carolina Legislature): scstatehouse.gov.
Checked against the statute on October 23, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
When an owner prepares an eviction in Seayora, it lists any repair request opened on the unit in the last 180 days that is still open, not to stop the case but because the tenant will raise retaliation and the owner should have an answer. Every repair request keeps the date it was filed.
Guides on this rule
- Landlord Retaliation Laws: Protected Tenant Acts and Time Limits — When an eviction, rent increase or cut in services is presumed retaliatory: 180 days in California, six months in Texas, a year in New York.
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More South Carolina rules
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- Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in South Carolina?
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- Every South Carolina rule on one page
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