In Spartanburg, South Carolina, your landlord can refuse to renew your lease, but they've got to follow specific notice requirements—and they can't do it for illegal reasons. Here's what you need to know about the timeline and what actually protects you.
The Basic Rule: Notice Requirements in Spartanburg
Here's the thing: South Carolina law doesn't require your landlord to renew your lease at all. They can choose not to, and that's technically legal. But they can't just kick you out whenever they feel like it—they've got to give you proper notice, and the amount of notice depends on what kind of tenancy you have.
If you're on a month-to-month lease in Spartanburg, your landlord needs to give you 30 days' written notice before they refuse to renew. That means if your lease is set to end on the 30th, they need to tell you by the 30th of the previous month that they're not renewing. South Carolina Code Section 27-40-770 spells this out, and it's not negotiable—they've got to put it in writing.
For fixed-term leases (like a one-year lease that ends on a specific date), the rules get a little trickier.
The timeline depends on what your lease says, but generally speaking, if your lease doesn't include an automatic renewal clause, your landlord doesn't have a legal obligation to renew it at all—they just don't renew it and you're done. No notice needed, technically. But if your lease does say it automatically renews unless someone gives notice, then your landlord needs to follow whatever notice period your lease specifies (usually 30 to 60 days before the renewal date).
When a Landlord Can't Refuse to Renew Your Lease
Now, here's where it gets real.
Even though your landlord can generally refuse to renew, they absolutely can't do it for illegal reasons. In Spartanburg and throughout South Carolina, it's against the law for a landlord to refuse to renew your lease because of your race, color, religion, sex, national origin, familial status, or disability. These protections come from the Fair Housing Act (federal law) and South Carolina's fair housing statutes. If your landlord is denying you a renewal for any of these reasons, you've got a solid case.
Your landlord also can't refuse to renew as retaliation. South Carolina Code Section 27-40-720 protects tenants who exercise their legal rights—like reporting code violations to the city or requesting repairs. If you asked for necessary repairs or complained to Spartanburg's code enforcement office and then your landlord suddenly won't renew your lease, that's illegal retaliation. The protection kicks in if the refusal happens within 90 days of your complaint, which is a pretty strong presumption that retaliation occurred.
The Timeline You Actually Need to Track
Let's break down what matters for your calendar.
If you're month-to-month: Your landlord gives you 30 days' notice by a specific date. You've got 30 days from receiving that notice to figure out your next move. Start looking for a new place immediately.
If you're on a fixed-term lease with automatic renewal: Check your lease document right now for the notice period. Most require 30 to 60 days' notice before the renewal date. Mark that deadline on your calendar. If your landlord misses it, congratulations—your lease automatically renews, and they can't just boot you out without starting over with proper notice.
If you're on a fixed-term lease without automatic renewal: Your tenancy ends on the date specified. Your landlord doesn't have to do anything, and you don't have legal protection requiring them to notify you earlier. But practically speaking, you should ask your landlord at least 60 days before your lease ends whether they plan to renew. (More on this below.) Don't wait.
Here's the tricky part nobody talks about: if your landlord fails to give proper notice, your lease doesn't automatically renew itself. You're still responsible for leaving on time. But if there's a notice violation, that might be something you can use in a dispute or even as evidence of retaliation if the timing looks suspicious.
What You Should Do Right Now
Real talk—if you're worried about renewal, don't assume anything. Get your lease in writing and actually read the renewal clause. Know your notice deadline. Keep records of any complaints you've made to the city about code violations or needed repairs, because those dates matter if retaliation becomes an issue.
If your landlord refuses to renew and you suspect it's for an illegal reason, document everything and contact the South Carolina Human Affairs Commission or a local legal aid organization. In Spartanburg, the Upstate Lawyers Referral Service can point you toward someone who handles fair housing cases.
The bottom line: your landlord has a lot of freedom here, but that freedom has legal limits. Know your lease deadlines, know the protected reasons, and don't assume silence means renewal.