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In essence, the difference between an offer to lease and a lease is that a signed offer to lease is a tenant and landlord saying, ?we agree to terms on a lease.? Some landlords and tenants in fact treat an offer to lease as a final lease.

You can end a South Carolina rental agreement early if the landlord fails to provide habitable housing. A habitable house is one that is safe and adheres to health and safety codes. A judge would rule that you have been constructively evicted if your landlord doesn't provide habitable housing.

A South Carolina rent-to-own agreement is a residential lease that includes an option for the tenant to purchase the property at a specific period during the tenancy agreement. It is customary for the tenant to pay either an upfront fee or an additional monthly payment (a rent premium) to acquire their purchase option.

But breaking a lease can still affect your credit if it results in unpaid debt. Whether it be damage fees, termination fees, back rent, or current rent that you're still liable for, landlords can report that debt to collection agencies, who may then report that unpaid debt to the credit bureaus.

Under the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act, a tenant may bring an action against the landlord for recovery of damages or to obtain legal relief for any violations by the Landlord. These remedies will be discussed later. A tenant is responsible for paying rent on time.

If your landlord repeatedly violates your rights to privacy, or does things like removing windows or doors, turning off your utilities, or changing the locks, you would be considered "constructively evicted," as described above; this would usually justify you breaking the lease without further rent obligation.