S.C. Code Ann. § 5-25-1330
Responsibility of owner of dwelling to supply and install smoke detectors in rental dwellings and housing; instructions for operation of detectors; notice of deficiencies in detectors; repair or replacement of detector
Operative Text
(A) The owner of a dwelling is responsible for supplying and installing the smoke detectors in rental dwellings and housing and shall provide the tenant at the time the tenant takes possession of the dwelling written or verbal instructions, or both, for testing the detectors and replacing batteries in battery-powered detectors. (B) The tenant of a rental dwelling shall notify the owner in writing of any deficiencies in the performance of the smoke detectors. The owner must be considered notified upon delivery of the written notice at the place of business of the owner through which the rental agreement was made or at any place held out by him as the place of receipt for the payment of rent or other communications. (C) Upon written notification by the tenant that a smoke detector is deficient, the owner shall repair or replace the detector within fifteen days. No obligation is created hereby for the owner to replace or repair a detector that he determines upon visual inspection or testing has been deliberately tampered with, damaged, or destroyed by the tenant or any person authorized to reside in the residence by the tenant and notifies the tenant in writing of these findings. The owner may repair or replace a detector that he determines has been deliberately tampered with, damaged, or destroyed by the tenant or any person authorized by the tenant to reside in the residence and may assess against the tenant the actual cost of the repair or replacement of the detector. (D) No obligation is created hereby for the owner to provide batteries for battery-powered detectors allowed under Section 5-25-1320.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 5-25-1330, landlords who rent out dwellings must supply, install, and provide operating instructions for smoke detectors before a tenant moves in. If a detector becomes deficient, the tenant must notify the owner in writing, and the owner then has fifteen days to repair or replace it. However, if the owner determines through inspection or testing that the detector was deliberately tampered with or damaged by the tenant or an authorized occupant, the owner is not obligated to make the repair and may charge the tenant the actual cost of fixing or replacing the unit. Notably, the law does not require owners to supply batteries for battery-powered detectors.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 5-25-1330, compliant rental property owners supply and install smoke detectors before a tenant takes possession and provide written or verbal instructions for testing the detectors and replacing batteries. When a tenant delivers written notice of a deficiency to the owner's place of business or designated payment address, the clock starts on a fifteen-day window to repair or replace the detector. Operators who discover through visual inspection or testing that a detector was deliberately tampered with or damaged by the tenant or an authorized occupant document those findings in writing to the tenant and may charge the actual cost of repair or replacement back to the responsible party.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
S.C. Code Ann. § 5-25-1330 gives tenants the right to receive a properly installed smoke detector and operating instructions when they move into a rental dwelling. If a detector is not working correctly, tenants generally protect their position under this provision by delivering written notice of the deficiency to the owner's place of business or rent-payment address, which triggers the owner's fifteen-day repair obligation. Tenants who believe an owner has failed to meet these responsibilities may consider contacting a local tenant-rights organization, a South Carolina legal aid office, or a housing code enforcement authority to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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