Bill > H3462

This bill adds new regulations for landlords in South Carolina regarding rental application fees and processes. Specifically, landlords must provide an itemized invoice and receipt for application screening fees, which cannot exceed $75 per applicant and must be charged equally to all prospective tenants. The fees can only be used for personal reference checks, tenant reports, and credit reports. Landlords are limited to considering rental and credit history from the past seven years. If a landlord denies a rental application, they must provide a written notice explaining the reasons for denial within 20 days, either electronically or on paper as requested by the applicant. If the specific screening criteria cannot be directly cited due to a proprietary screening system, the landlord must provide a copy of the screening report. If a landlord fails to comply with these requirements, they may be liable for triple the application fee amount, plus court costs and attorney's fees. However, landlords can avoid liability by remedying violations within seven days of receiving notice, and applicants must provide seven days' notice before filing legal action. The bill also includes a provision to discourage frivolous claims by making individuals who file meritless claims liable for the landlord's legal defense costs. The bill will take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Business and Industry

https://www.scstatehouse.gov/billsearch.php?billnumbers=3462&session=126&summary=B