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Simpsonville is one of South Carolina's fastest-growing cities, located in Greenville County in the northwestern Upstate region. As the city's population has expanded — surpassing 25,000 residents — rental demand has grown alongside it, making an understanding of tenant rights more important than ever for the city's renters.
All landlord-tenant relationships in Simpsonville are governed by the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, codified at S.C. Code § 27-40-10 et seq. This statewide law sets the rules on security deposits, habitability, eviction procedures, and retaliation protections. Simpsonville has not enacted any local ordinances that go beyond these state requirements, so the state statute is the primary source of protection for renters here.
This article explains your key rights as a renter in Simpsonville, citing the specific statutes that apply. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal problem, consult a licensed South Carolina attorney or contact SC Legal Services.
Simpsonville has no rent control, and South Carolina law does not authorize any municipality to enact it. The South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code § 27-40-10 et seq.) establishes a comprehensive statewide framework for landlord-tenant relations but contains no provision capping rent increases, and no South Carolina city or county has enacted a rent stabilization ordinance.
In practical terms, this means a landlord in Simpsonville may raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenants, with at least 30 days' written notice before the next rent due date (S.C. Code § 27-40-770). There is no ceiling on how large an increase can be, no requirement to justify an increase, and no local board or office to which renters can appeal a rent hike. The only protection against a retaliatory rent increase — one imposed because you reported a code violation or exercised a legal right — is found in S.C. Code § 27-40-910, discussed in the state protections section below.
South Carolina's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code §§ 27-40-10 through 27-40-940) provides the following key protections to renters in Simpsonville:
Habitability (S.C. Code § 27-40-440): Landlords must maintain rental units in a fit and habitable condition, including compliance with applicable building and housing codes, keeping common areas safe and clean, maintaining in good working order all electrical, plumbing, heating, and air-conditioning systems, and providing adequate trash receptacles. Failure to meet these obligations gives tenants specific remedies under S.C. Code § 27-40-630.
Repairs (S.C. Code § 27-40-630): If your landlord fails to make a needed repair, you must first deliver written notice of the problem. The landlord then has 14 days to remedy the condition (or a shorter period if the condition poses an immediate threat to health or safety). If the landlord does not act, you may be entitled to terminate the lease, seek a rent reduction, or place rent in escrow with the court, subject to the statutory requirements for doing so.
Security Deposit Rules (S.C. Code § 27-40-410): There is no statutory cap on the amount a landlord may charge as a security deposit in South Carolina. The landlord must return the deposit — along with an itemized written statement of any deductions — within 30 days of the termination of the tenancy and the tenant's surrender of possession. Wrongful withholding entitles the tenant to recover up to three times the amount improperly held plus reasonable attorney's fees.
Notice to Terminate (S.C. Code § 27-40-770): Either party to a month-to-month tenancy must provide at least 30 days' written notice before the date on which the termination is to take effect. For week-to-week tenancies, at least 7 days' written notice is required. Fixed-term leases end on the date specified without additional notice unless the lease provides otherwise.
Anti-Retaliation (S.C. Code § 27-40-910): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for complaining to a government agency about a housing code violation, for organizing or joining a tenants' union, or for exercising any right or remedy provided by law. Prohibited retaliatory acts include increasing rent, decreasing services, or initiating eviction proceedings. If a landlord retaliates in violation of this section, the tenant may recover actual damages, pursue a defense in an eviction action, or terminate the lease.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (S.C. Code § 27-40-660): A landlord may not remove a tenant from a rental unit by any means other than a court-ordered eviction. It is unlawful for a landlord to change locks, remove doors or windows, shut off utilities, or take any other self-help action to force a tenant out. Violating this prohibition entitles the tenant to recover actual damages or up to three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.
South Carolina imposes no statutory maximum on the security deposit a landlord in Simpsonville may charge (S.C. Code § 27-40-410). A landlord may collect whatever amount is agreed upon in the lease, though market practice often ranges from one to two months' rent.
Return deadline: After the tenancy ends and the tenant surrenders possession, the landlord has 30 days to return the deposit. The return must be accompanied by an itemized written statement explaining any deductions for unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, or other charges permitted by the lease.
Penalty for wrongful withholding: Under S.C. Code § 27-40-410(c), if a landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the required itemized statement within 30 days — or makes deductions that are not legally justified — the tenant may recover up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus reasonable attorney's fees in a civil action.
Practical tips: Document the condition of the unit with dated photographs at move-in and move-out, obtain a written receipt for your deposit, and provide your forwarding address in writing when you vacate so the landlord has no excuse for failing to meet the 30-day deadline.
Evictions in Simpsonville follow the procedures set out in the South Carolina Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (S.C. Code §§ 27-40-710 through 27-40-780) and the South Carolina Ejectment Act (S.C. Code § 27-37-10 et seq.). The process is as follows:
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, a landlord must serve the appropriate written notice. For nonpayment of rent, the landlord must give at least 5 days' written notice demanding payment or possession (S.C. Code § 27-40-710). For a material breach of the lease other than nonpayment, the landlord must provide 14 days' written notice to cure or vacate (S.C. Code § 27-40-710(b)). For a month-to-month tenancy terminated without cause, the landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice (S.C. Code § 27-40-770).
Step 2 — Court Filing: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file an ejectment action in magistrate court in Greenville County. The filing fee must be paid, and the tenant will be served with a summons.
Step 3 — Hearing: The magistrate court schedules a hearing, typically within a few days to two weeks of filing. Both parties may appear and present evidence. Tenants should attend — failing to appear generally results in a default judgment for the landlord.
Step 4 — Judgment & Writ of Ejectment: If the court rules for the landlord, a writ of ejectment is issued. The tenant then has a short period to vacate before the writ is enforced. Only a law enforcement officer — not the landlord — may physically remove a tenant pursuant to the writ.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal (S.C. Code § 27-40-660): A landlord who changes locks, removes doors or windows, shuts off utilities, or takes any other action to force a tenant out without a court order is violating state law. Tenants subjected to self-help eviction may recover actual damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.
No Just Cause Requirement: South Carolina and Simpsonville do not require a landlord to state a reason for non-renewing or terminating a tenancy, as long as proper notice is given. However, a landlord may not initiate eviction in retaliation for a tenant exercising legal rights (S.C. Code § 27-40-910).
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information presented here is based on South Carolina state law as of April 2026 and reflects conditions applicable to Simpsonville, Greenville County. Laws and local ordinances may change; always verify current requirements with a licensed South Carolina attorney or a qualified legal aid organization such as SC Legal Services before taking action. Nothing on this page creates an attorney-client relationship.
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