What are some examples of valid reasons for a landlord to deduct money from a security deposit?

1. The tenant does not adhere to applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety.
2. The tenant does not keep his dwelling unit in a reasonably safe and clean condition.
3. The tenant does not dispose of ashes, garbage, rubbish, or other waste in a reasonably clean or safe manner.
4. The tenant does not keep the plumbing fixtures in the dwelling unit reasonably clean.
5. The tenant does not use electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, in the premises in a reasonable manner.
6. The tenant has deliberately or negligently destroyed, defaced, damaged, impaired, or removed a part of the dwelling unit or permitted another person to do so.
7. The tenant, or his guest, has disturbed another tenant’s peaceful enjoyment of their dwelling unit.

While the list of reasons above for a landlord to withhold a security deposit is not exhaustive, it is what legislators in South Carolina adopted when passing the South Carolina Residential Landlord Tenant Act.