Mobile home park fees in South Carolina

South Carolina has no mobile-home-park fee statute. Charges come from the written rental agreement under the general Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Title 27, Chapter 40), which sets clear rules for the security deposit and bars a handful of one-sided lease terms. The information below describes how the law generally works; anyone disputing a specific charge should consider consulting a licensed attorney in South Carolina.

What the statute says

The security deposit is governed by S.C. Code Ann. §27-40-410. On termination, "property or money held by the landlord as security must be returned less amounts withheld ... for accrued rent and damages," and "any deduction ... must be itemized by the landlord in a written notice to the tenant together with the amount due, if any, within thirty days after termination of the tenancy and delivery of possession and demand by the tenant, whichever is later." Under §27-40-410(c), a landlord renting "more than four adjoining dwelling units" with "different standards for calculating ... deposits" must post or provide those standards, or lose the ability to take certain deductions.

On lease terms, §27-40-330(a) provides that a rental agreement "may not provide that the tenant" waives "rights or remedies under this chapter," "authorizes any person to confess judgment," or "agrees to the exculpation or limitation of any liability of the landlord."

How it works in general

Because South Carolina has no park-specific fee law, the fees a resident owes are whatever the written rental agreement sets — there is no statutory cap, no required itemized fee schedule, and no ban on entrance, transfer, or sale fees like the ones some states impose. What the Act does guarantee is deposit protection: on move-out the landlord must return the deposit, with any deductions itemized in writing, within 30 days of the tenancy ending, possession being delivered, and the tenant's demand. In larger parks, the landlord also has to disclose how it calculates deposits. And abusive lease terms — waivers of rights, confessions of judgment, and clauses exculpating the landlord — are unenforceable.

Common scenarios

General examples South Carolina park residents commonly encounter:

• A deposit isn't returned. The landlord must return it with itemized deductions within 30 days of move-out and demand (§27-40-410).
• A lease says the tenant waives rights under the Act. That term is barred (§27-40-330).
• A resident looks for a cap on park fees. South Carolina has none; the rental agreement controls, because there is no dedicated park law.

Other authorities that may apply

The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (§§27-40-410, 27-40-330) governs the deposit and prohibited lease terms; the written rental agreement defines the remaining charges. Because no park-specific statute exists, this guide flags the missing fee protections honestly. Federal law can apply in particular situations.