S.C. Code Ann. § 40-57-520
Management of residential multiunit rental locations
Operative Text
(A) The management of each residential multiunit rental location must be provided by an on-site licensee or an off-site licensee if there is no on-site staff. (B) The commission may permit multiple multiunit rental property locations to be managed by one licensee. (C) An unlicensed employee of the owner of a multiunit rental property or an unlicensed individual who works under the supervision of a licensee is permitted to perform only the following duties: (1) maintenance; (2) clerical or administrative support; (3) collection of rents that are made payable to the owner or real estate company; (4) showing rental units to prospective tenants; (5) furnishing published information; (6) providing applications and lease forms; and (7) receiving applications and leases for submission to the owner or the licensee for approval.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 40-57-520, every residential multiunit rental property in South Carolina must be managed by a licensed property manager — either on-site or, if no on-site staff exists, off-site. The state commission has authority to allow a single licensee to oversee multiple properties. Unlicensed employees or individuals working under a licensee's supervision are limited to a defined set of tasks, such as maintenance, clerical work, rent collection payable to the owner, showing units, and handling application paperwork — they may not exercise broader management authority.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and management companies operating residential multiunit rentals in South Carolina should ensure that a properly licensed individual is designated to manage each location as required by § 40-57-520. If a property relies on unlicensed staff — whether employees or supervised individuals — compliant operators generally confine those workers to the enumerated duties listed in the statute, such as maintenance, clerical support, rent collection, showing units, and processing applications. Operators who wish to have one licensee oversee multiple properties may seek permission from the commission, which has discretion to allow such arrangements under § 40-57-520(B).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 40-57-520 of the South Carolina Code establishes that tenants in residential multiunit properties have the right to expect that property management is being conducted by or under the oversight of a licensed individual. If a tenant believes that unlicensed personnel are performing duties beyond those permitted by § 40-57-520 — such as making binding management decisions or approving leases without licensee involvement — that concern can generally be raised with the South Carolina Real Estate Commission, which oversees licensee conduct. Tenant-rights organizations in South Carolina can also help residents understand how this licensing framework may relate to their rental situation.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation