Free South Carolina Rental Application Form

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Last Update March 14th, 2024

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What Is a South Carolina Residential Rental Application

A South Carolina rental application is a legal document used by landlords and property managers to assess and choose an appropriate tenant for a rental property. They are sometimes known by other common names such as:

  • Tenant applications
  • Rental lease applications
  • Lease applications
  • Applications for a rental property

Having a rental application can prove highly important to make sure you get the right tenant into your property. The process of screening prospective residents in this way allows you to discover any issues such as their inability to pay rent or the likelihood to cause a nuisance before signing a contract.

South Carolina Rental Applications by Type

There are two main types of rental applications in South Carolina. You must select the most relevant one depending on the type of property being rented, local laws, and the type of leasing agreement that will be used. 

Standard/General South Carolina Rental Application

The most common type of vetting document used by SC landlords is the South Carolina Standard Rental Application. This form can be customized according to the specific necessities of the property owner or manager. 

Department of Housing And Urban Development (HUD) Rental Application 

Landlords of low-income tenants or those offering Section 8 Housing should use a HUD rental application. It is specifically designed to only include information that is allowed under subsidized housing rules.

What to Include in a South Carolina Rental Application Form

When you fill in a simple rental application form for South Carolina you’ll need to ask for some crucial data from the tenant to make the vetting process as effective as possible. 

When you create your own application for a rental property you should request the following information:

  • Personal data
  • Rental history
  • Employment details
  • Income information
  • Credit history
  • Personal references
  • Permission for background checks

Additionally, the landlord must provide several legal disclosures on a standard rental application. They must report information on:

  • The property’s condition
  • Potential hazards to the tenant
  • Shared utility arrangements
  • Rent control rules
  • Smoking policy
  • The security deposit
  • Associated fees

South Carolina Rental Application Laws

South Carolina has many rules and statutes regulating its housing market. These must be fully considered when preparing an application for rental properties in the state. 

Following SC rules and statutes is essential for landlords when creating a Rental Application. 

If you do not create your Rental Application based on these rules, you may accidentally create an invalid document. 

For the application to be considered valid, review the following laws to understand how to write your Rental Application correctly.

Application Fee

There is no limit in terms of what application fee can be charged by South Carolina landlords. Furthermore, the application fee is non-refundable regardless of its amount.

Security Deposit

Similar to the application fee law, there is no South Carolina statute defining a limit on the amount landlords can charge tenants for security deposits. 

However, any money collected must be returned within 30 days of the tenancy ending as long as deductions haven’t been made.

Failure to return any prepaid rent or the security deposit can result in the tenant recovering up to 3 times the amount that was withheld from them. 

However, for this to be the case, the tenant must give the required notice along with a forwarding address (§ 27-40-410). 

Housing Discrimination Law

In South Carolina, there is no specific state law relating to housing discrimination. However, the Fair Housing Act (FHA) is in place. The FHA states that it is illegal to discriminate based on the following characteristics: 

  • Race
  • Color
  • Nationality
  • Religion
  • Sex
  • Familial status
  • Disability
  • Criminal history

As a consequence, you are not allowed to ask for any of these details on a South Carolina Rental Application form nor to include them in the decision-making process. 

Notice of Eligibility

Potential tenants must be informed about the screening criteria and reasons for denial or approval. To prove that these facts were shared, a signature of acknowledgment must be provided within the application or alongside it. 

Consent Credit Check

Within South Carolina, federal law is in effect that requires potential renters to provide written consent for a credit history check during the application process. This is known as the Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)

South Carolina Rental Application Sample

It’s sensible to look over the template of a South Carolina rental application before starting your own. This can help to give you a better idea of what your final form will look like and the kind of information you’ll need to add to it.

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Rental Application South Carolina Sample

FAQs About South Carolina Rental Application Form

Understanding what your South Carolina rental application can and cannot do is vital before you create your own from scratch. Find out more about how these screening documents work and what you need to know when writing them.

How to Fill Out a South Carolina Rental Application

Creating a South Carolina rental application can be easily done with the help of our contract maker and template tools. When you fill out a rental application form you will usually request the following information from the tenant:

  • Personal data
  • Rental history
  • Employment details
  • Income information
  • Credit history
  • Personal references
  • Permission for background checks

You must also include important legal disclosures on the property and the lease agreement being proposed. This will outline details on the condition of the property, any hazards, and information on details such as security deposit and fees. Our template designer will help you add the data that must be added.

What Is The Screening Process in South Carolina?

When you wish to rent out your property to a tenant you can use a South Carolina rental application to check the potential resident before they move in. This allows you to get important background information from the applicant.

In South Carolina you might use a rental application to find out any of the following about a prospective tenant:

  • Whether they can afford rent or not
  • If they have a positive or negative rental history
  • If they are employed
  • Their credit history
  • Whether they have committed any crimes or felonies

What Cannot Be Asked on Rental Applications in South Carolina?

You cannot ask tenants a number of questions when you are vetting them with a South Carolina rental application document. You must not request any of the following information from the applicant during this process:

  • Race or ethnicity
  • Religion
  • Sexuality
  • Immigration or citizenship status
  • Arrest records
  • Marital or familial status
  • Whether they have children or not
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Rental Application South Carolina Sample

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Preview of your Rental Application South Carolina

RENTAL APPLICATION
The following sections must be completed by the Applicant. Please note that, except for married couples, each occupant who is 18 years of age or older has to complete a separate Application to Rent.

Shall the Applicant have any question regarding the rental unit, please contact _________ at:
Email Address: _________
Phone: _________
The Applicant is a: (check one)

(   ) Tenant
(   ) Tenant with co-tenant(s)
(   ) Guarantor/co-signor
PROPERTY INFORMATION
Application to rent property located at the following address:

_________ , _________, SC _________

Type of Property: House
Date of Availability: _________
Proposed Move-In Date: _________
APPLICANT'S INFORMATION

Please attach a copy of your Driver's License, State ID, Military ID, or Passport.
FULL NAME OF APPLICANT: ________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth: _________________________ (Optional. For purpose of obtaining credit reports. Age discrimination is prohibited by state and federal law)
Driver's license number or any valid ID: _________________ State: ______________ Expires: _________________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________
Home Phone: (______) ___________ Alternative Phone: (______) ___________
CO-APPLICANT'S INFORMATION (if applicable)
Please attach a copy of your Driver's License, State ID, Military ID, or Passport.

FULL NAME OF CO-APPLICANT: ________________________________________________________________
Date of Birth: _________________________ (Optional)
Driver's license number or any valid ID: _________________ State: ______________ Expires: __________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________
Home Phone: (______) ___________ Alternative Phone: (______) ___________
OTHER OCCUPANTS' INFORMATION (if applicable)
Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Relation to Applicant: ______________________ Date of Birth: ______________ (Optional)

Name: ____________________________________________________________________
Relation to Applicant: ______________________ Date of Birth: ______________ (Optional)
EMERGENCY CONTACT

In case of emergency, please contact:

Emergency contact #1: ____________________________________________________
Relationship: _______________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________
Emergency contact #2: ____________________________________________________
Relationship: _______________________
Address: ____________________________________________________________________
Phone: _______________________
Email Address: ____________________________________________________
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Pets
Pets are not allowed in the rental property. However, as provided by law, a Service Animal(s) is not considered a pet, and every individual with a disability shall have a right to have a Service Animal(s) on the Property.
Waterbeds
The Landlord prohibits the use of waterbeds on the rental unit.
Smoking and Vaping
The Landlord does not allow smoking or vaping in the rental unit.
CONSENT & ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

By signing this Residential Rental Application, the Applicant accepts and agrees to the following:
(i)This is only an Application to Rent and does not guarantee that the Applicant will be selected as a tenant of the premises.
(ii)The Landlord or Manager or his/her authorized Agent could receive multiple rental applications for the premises and will only select the most qualified individual.
(iii)Applicant represents the above information to be true and complete.
Applicant hereby authorizes the Landlord or Manager or his/her authorized Agent to do the following:
(i)Verify all of the personal information provided above.
(ii)Obtain a credit report, as well as other reports, on the Applicant.
(iii)Applicant further authorizes the Landlord or Manager or his/her authorized Agent to disclose information to the owners or agents of the premises with whom the Applicant intends to have a rental relationship.
Does the Applicant wish to receive a copy of the reports that we may obtain?Yes (   )     No (   )     

Notice of Non-Discrimination

The Landlord does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any approval/disapproval of this application.


__________________________________________
Applicant's SignatureDate
__________________________________________
Co-Applicant's SignatureDate
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