Can't Pay Rent in South Carolina: What Are My Options?

1. South Carolina's rental law does not require your landlord to remind you or ask you for your rent before it is due. Your rent must be paid on the day and place you and your landlord agreed to in your lease. Because your landlord does not have to warn you first, mark your due date yourself and pay by then.

   RenterLaw editorial South Carolina Legislature § 27-40-310(c)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

2. Unless your lease or your landlord tells you in writing otherwise, you pay rent at the home you rent, not somewhere else. If you pay once a month, your rent is due at the start of the month. If you pay for a shorter period, such as a week, it is due at the start of that period.

   South Carolina Legislature § 27-40-310(c)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

3. If you and your landlord never agreed on how much rent you owe, South Carolina law says you owe the fair-market rental value. That means the rent a similar home in your area would normally cost a new renter.

   South Carolina Legislature § 27-40-310(b)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

4. Your lease can include a late fee for rent you pay after the due date. South Carolina's rental law counts a late fee as part of your rent itself, not as a separate charge. Check your lease to see the exact amount and when it starts to apply.

   RenterLaw editorial South Carolina Legislature § 27-40-210(11)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

5. If your late fee is very high, you can ask a court to decide if it is unconscionable (unfair when your lease was signed). If the court agrees, it can enforce the rest of your lease but leave out that fee.

   South Carolina Legislature § 27-40-230(a)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

6. South Carolina's rental law requires honesty between you and your landlord. The law calls this good faith (being honest about the facts). Good faith covers every duty under South Carolina's landlord-tenant law. It also covers every step you must take before using a right under that law.

   South Carolina Legislature § 27-40-220

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

7. You and your landlord can agree to add terms to your lease, such as a payment plan for rent you owe. South Carolina's rental law allows this as long as the terms do not break any other law. Your landlord does not have to agree to a payment plan or to change your due date.

   South Carolina Legislature § 27-40-310(a)

   ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

8. If you cannot pay your full rent on time, contact your landlord in writing as soon as you know there is a problem. Ask if your landlord will accept part of your rent or agree to a payment plan you can afford. Keep a copy of what you send.

   RenterLaw editorial

9. Get any payment plan in writing, with the amount and the date of each payment. A written plan gives you and your landlord a record of what you agreed to if there is a disagreement later.

   RenterLaw editorial

10. South Carolina's state rent help program, SC Stay Plus, is closed and has used up all of its money. If you need help paying rent now, contact 211 or go to sc211.org to find help available in your area.

    South Carolina State Housing Finance and Development Authority (SC Housing) SC Stay Plus

    ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

11. If you do not pay your rent, your landlord can start a court case to remove you from your home. Read the guide on facing eviction in South Carolina to learn about notices, the court process, and how to respond.

    RenterLaw editorial South Carolina Legislature § 27-40-710(B)

    ✓ Sources checked September 29, 2026

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