Strong tenant protections
Breaking a lease in South Carolina
The mitigation question
Good news
Your landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent — you owe the gap, not the whole remainder. Yes — S.C. Code § 27-40-730(c) (statutory duty to mitigate); also Act Section 5(b): 'The aggrieved party has a duty to mitigate damages.'
Your protected exits
- Military. SCRA baseline (50 U.S.C. § 3955); no South Carolina state military lease-termination statute. Guide →
- Domestic violence. NEW — Act 184 of 2026 (H3569), signed 2026-05-18, effective 2026-05-18. A protected tenant (victim of a documented 'qualifying incident' of domestic abuse/violence where victim and perpetrator are co-leaseholders) may… S.C. Code § 27-40-350 (Act 184 of 2026) Guide →
- Uninhabitable conditions. § 27-40-610 — written notice specifying the material noncompliance affecting health/safety; terminate on a date not less than 14 days after receipt if not remedied within 14 days.
- Landlord harassment (per secondary source citing §§ 27-40-610, 27-40-780)
Notice periods
| Situation | Rule |
|---|
| Dv | written notice + documentation, effective ≥30 days after receipt |
| Habitability | written notice + 14 days to remedy; termination ≥14 days after receipt |
| Military | SCRA baseline |
Early-termination fees
Reported (confirm with a licensed attorney):
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Not legal advice. This page is general information about landlord-tenant law, not advice about your situation. Laws change and procedures vary by county. For advice about your lease, consult a licensed attorney in your state — many legal aid offices help renters free.