Which disclosures must a South Carolina lease include?
South Carolina landlord-tenant law is governed by the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code Title 27, Ch. 40). The core disclosures a South Carolina landlord must give at or around lease signing:
| Disclosure | Authority | Applies To |
|---|---|---|
| Owner/agent identity | S.C. Code § 27-40-420 | Every lease |
| Multi-unit deposit standards | S.C. Code § 27-40-410 | More than 4 adjoining units with different deposit standards |
| Lead-based paint hazard + EPA pamphlet | Title X (federal) | Housing built before 1978 |
The main South Carolina lease disclosures
Owner/agent identity (S.C. Code § 27-40-420): the landlord must disclose in writing the owner or authorized agent for service of process and notices; a manager who fails to disclose is treated as the landlord
Additional South Carolina disclosures
Multi-unit deposit standards (S.C. Code § 27-40-410): a landlord of more than four adjoining units that uses different standards to set deposits must post or give each prospective tenant a written statement of those standards
Federal lead-based paint disclosure
One disclosure applies in every state, South Carolina included: for housing built before 1978, federal law (Title X; 42 U.S.C. § 4852d) requires the landlord to give a signed lead-warning disclosure, reveal any known lead hazards, hand over any available records, and provide the EPA pamphlet Protect Your Family From Lead in Your Home. Violations can bring civil — and in egregious cases criminal — penalties.
What happens if a South Carolina landlord skips a required disclosure?
Consequences depend on the disclosure:
- A missed 30-day itemized deposit return exposes the landlord to three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney's fees (§ 27-40-410).
- Without the multi-unit deposit-standards statement, the excess deposit cannot be applied to damages (§ 27-40-410).
- A federal lead-paint violation carries civil and, in egregious cases, criminal penalties plus tenant damages.
For the full set of South Carolina lease rules, see What Must a South Carolina Lease Agreement Include. Managing rentals in more than one state? Compare South Carolina's list with our Florida and Texas disclosure checklists, and see the baseline in What Every Residential Lease Agreement Must Include.
Create your South Carolina lease agreement
LeaseHelper's AI generator produces real, state-specific lease agreements for all 50 states — including one tailored to South Carolina.
Create your South Carolina lease agreement →Frequently asked questions
What disclosures are required in a South Carolina lease?
A South Carolina lease must include owner/agent identity; multi-unit deposit standards (S.C. Code § 27-40-420; S.C. Code § 27-40-410), plus the federal lead-based paint disclosure for pre-1978 housing.
Does South Carolina require a owner/agent identity disclosure?
Yes. the landlord must disclose in writing the owner or authorized agent for service of process and notices; a manager who fails to disclose is treated as the landlord (S.C. Code § 27-40-420).
Does South Carolina require a multi-unit deposit standards disclosure?
Yes. a landlord of more than four adjoining units that uses different standards to set deposits must post or give each prospective tenant a written statement of those standards (S.C. Code § 27-40-410).
Does South Carolina require a lead-paint disclosure?
Yes, for pre-1978 housing. This is a federal requirement: the signed lead-warning disclosure, known records, and the EPA pamphlet.
Official sources
Primary statutes and official government references for this guide. Statutes change — always confirm against the current official text before you act.