South Carolina Room Rental Agreement

Legal Aspects 

South Carolina Room Rental Agreement outlines the duties of a landlord leasing a specific room within a property rather than the entire premises.

Written contracts are typically upheld in legal terms, whereas verbal agreements may not always be. Hence, it’s vital to establish a written agreement when leasing a room or a portion of a rental property. This holds greater significance in enforcing financial commitments and responsibilities.

Access to the Room 

In a South Carolina Room Rental Agreement, both the landlord and tenant hold certain rights and privileges. 

• The property owner has the authority to access the leased room for upkeep, repair work, or evaluations, provided the tenant is given adequate advance notice.
• The owner may enter the room without notice in case of an emergency.
• The tenant has the right to enjoy a reasonable level of privacy and peaceful occupancy of the leased room.

Guest & Pets Policy 

Several key factors must be considered when drafting a tenant guest policy for a South Carolina Room Rental Agreement. These include:

• The maximum number of occupants permitted in the room.
• The type of visitors allowed (for instance, only friends or relatives of the existing tenants may occupy the room without consent, thereby prohibiting strangers, subletters, or Airbnb guests).
• The maximum duration a visitor can stay on the property within a certain period.
• The maximum number of consecutive nights a guest can spend.
• The approach to handling guests who exceed the stipulated stay duration (for example, eviction of tenants who breach this part of the lease or addition of long-term visitors to the lease as tenants).

Pet Policies:

• Provide information regarding the permissible categories of animals that can be kept as domestic companions.
• It’s necessary to ensure that pets possess appropriate identification, licenses, and vaccinations.
• Only allow approved animals.
• Tenants should be held accountable for their pets.
• Pet security deposit, except for service animals.

Security Deposit Regulations 

In South Carolina, the laws surrounding security deposits are designed to safeguard the landlord from negligent tenants. Here are the key points:

• Upon departure, an owner is given a 30-day window to return the tenant’s deposit. Failure to comply may result in fines, potentially leading to the landlord paying up to three (3) times the withheld amount plus legal costs.
• Owners have the liberty to determine the security deposit amount. However, if different amounts are charged for similar rooms, South Carolina law mandates that other tenants be informed.
• Landlords must provide a clear explanation for the variation in amounts. Non-compliance could lead to the forfeiture of the landlord’s right to utilize any portion of the tenant’s security deposit.
• Landlords are permitted to retain part or all of the tenant’s security deposit under two (2) circumstances: (a) if the tenant fails to pay rent and (b) inflicts property damage beyond normal wear and tear.