Fast & affordable landlord insurance in South Carolina
Landlord insurance in South Carolina provides coverage for rental property damage, landlord liability, and income interruption. Coverage options and pricing vary by property type and coastal exposure. Get a quote for South Carolina landlord insurance tailored to your rental.
We've gotten more than $61 million in property insured in South Carolina
What to know about rental properties in South Carolina
South Carolina has been attracting rental property investors at an increasing rate. The state is landlord-friendly — no rent control, a relatively fast eviction process, and broad flexibility on lease terms. Charleston, Greenville, Columbia, and Myrtle Beach are the primary markets, with strong demand from both long-term renters and the short-term vacation rental market along the coast.
Portfolio growth has accelerated significantly across these metropolitan areas, with Charleston County alone recording over 15,000 active rental properties as of 2024. According to census bureau data, South Carolina was America's fastest-growing state between 2024 and 2025, growing by 1.5%.
South Carolina's weather risk, though, is significant. The coast faces direct hurricane exposure, and the state has experienced major hurricane damage in recent years. Inland areas face severe thunderstorms, tornadoes, and flooding. Even properties away from the coast can sustain significant damage from tropical storm remnants that move inland.
Hurricanes Florence (in 2018) and Ian (in 2022) demonstrated how quickly weather events can transform profitable properties into costly repair projects, affecting landlords throughout the Palmetto State's diverse geographic regions.
How landlord insurance works in South Carolina
Landlord insurance in South Carolina covers the dwelling, liability, and income risks that a homeowners policy won't extend to a rental property. If you're renting out property in South Carolina, a dedicated landlord policy is necessary. Standard homeowners coverage explicitly excludes business activities, and rental operations fall under this exclusion.
A standard policy includes:
- Dwelling coverage for structural damage
- Liability coverage protects against injury claims
- Loss of rent coverage replaces income during repairs
It's worth noting that landlord insurance policies do not include flood coverage, which can be important for South Carolina landlords. Separate flood insurance policies are available through NFIP or private carriers.
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Do you need landlord insurance in South Carolina?
South Carolina's hurricane exposure makes the case strongly for coastal landlords, but the need extends statewide. Severe thunderstorms, hail, and tornadoes affect interior markets regularly, and the Midlands and Upstate see enough wind and storm damage each year that coastal-only thinking leaves a lot of landlords underprotected.
The financial logic is straightforward. A hurricane that damages a rental on the Grand Strand, a hailstorm that takes out the roof on a Columbia duplex, or a liability claim from a tenant injury can each produce costs that far exceed the annual premium. South Carolina's landlord-tenant law places real obligations on property owners around habitability and maintenance — and when those obligations intersect with a tenant injury, the legal exposure can compound quickly on top of whatever the property damage costs.
In short, landlord insurance is not just a nice thing to have, but an important staple of a thriving rental business.
Average cost of landlord insurance in South Carolina
South Carolina's median landlord insurance premium is around $1,192 per year, a moderate figure (below the national average) despite the real regional risk. Coastal exposure along the Grand Strand and Lowcountry can push premiums higher for properties in those areas, while inland South Carolina rentals tend to fall closer to or below the median.
Steadily covers condos as well as single-family and multifamily homes, especially relevant given the prevalence of beachside condominiums in South Carolina. The average condo policy will be more affordable than that of a single-family home, considering it is smaller and structural elements of the building that contains it are usually covered by the HOA.
It's worth noting that the exact location of your property will matter quite a bit in determining your premium; South Carolina has diverse geography from coastal areas to inland regions, and premiums can vary significantly from town to town. Your property type, its age, and condition will also determine where your actual premium lands relative to the median.
To get a quote on your rental property, all you need to do is enter your address and some other quick details below. Quotes are completely free and will be sent to your email within minutes.
DP-1 vs DP-3 comparison for South Carolina
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Properties we look after
We make it easy to get landlord insurance for many types of properties
We also help AirBNBs, VRBOS, and other rental properties
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Coverages
We cover a wide range of risks, or you can choose a limited set of coverages for a lower premium
Riot & civil commotion
Yes. Steadily’s landlord insurance covers property damage from riots and civil commotion — broken windows, structural fires, looted common areas — so the repair costs don’t fall entirely on you. Documentation connecting the damage to the civil unrest is required.
Vandalism & burglary
Yes. Steadily covers malicious damage to your rental from vandalism and break-ins — broken doors and windows, defaced surfaces, damaged fixtures and appliances. A police report is typically required to file the claim.
Loss of rent
Yes, when a covered event makes the unit temporarily uninhabitable. Steadily’s loss of rent coverage replaces the income you’d lose while repairs are underway — whether the cause is a fire, a burst pipe, or storm damage.
Storm and hail
Yes. Steadily covers storm and hail damage to the structure — roof punctures, broken windows, wind-torn siding, fallen debris — plus lost rental income when the damage is bad enough to displace tenants.
Water
Yes, for sudden events — burst pipes, plumbing failures, appliance overflow. Steadily covers the structural repairs and lost rental income if the unit can’t be occupied while the work is done. Flood damage from rising water requires a separate policy.
Legal liability
Yes. If a tenant or visitor is injured at your rental and sues, Steadily covers the medical bills, attorney fees, and any settlement or judgment — up to your policy’s liability limits.
Fire
Yes — Steadily covers structural fire damage, smoke damage, personal property you own at the unit, and lost rental income while repairs are underway. That includes fires started in the kitchen, by the wiring, by a tenant, or by a wildfire nearby.
FAQs
about landlord insurance in
South Carolina
Is landlord insurance required in South Carolina?
South Carolina doesn't mandate it by law. Lenders require coverage on financed properties, and the state's coastal hurricane exposure makes insurance essential for properties along the coast. Even inland, severe thunderstorms and occasional tornadoes create enough risk to make coverage a smart investment.
Can a South Carolina landlord require tenants to carry renters insurance?
Yes. South Carolina landlords can make renters insurance a condition of the lease. This requirement is common across the state, from Charleston beach rentals to Columbia and Greenville properties. Requiring tenants to maintain their own coverage helps protect both parties and simplifies the claims process when something goes wrong.
What should South Carolina landlords know about insuring a condo they rent out?
If you're renting out a condo in South Carolina, you'll need a landlord policy (or condo landlord policy) that covers the interior of your unit, your liability, and any improvements you've made. The condo association's master policy typically covers the building's exterior and common areas but won't protect your individual unit or your rental income. A condo-specific landlord policy fills those gaps and is essential for any South Carolina condo investor.
Does landlord insurance in South Carolina cover hurricane damage?
Wind damage from a hurricane is generally covered, but South Carolina coastal policies often have a separate, percentage-based hurricane or windstorm deductible — which can be significantly higher than your standard deductible. Flood damage from storm surge or heavy rainfall is never covered under a standard policy; you'll need a separate flood insurance policy. For coastal South Carolina rentals, both windstorm and flood coverage are practically essential.
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