The South Carolina legislature created the South Carolina Residential Landlord Tenant Act (“Act”) to protect tenants from landlords who would take advantage of tenants in this manner. The Act protects tenants by requiring landlords to return such funds to the tenant. If a landlord were to disobey the law, a magistrate court judge could issue an award of damages to the tenant in an amount equal to three times the amount wrongfully withheld (i.e., treble damages) along with reasonable attorney’s fees.
