News Summary
Greenville and Charleston are facing alarming eviction rates, ranking second and third highest in the nation, respectively. Greenville’s eviction rate is at 20%, affecting one in five renters, while Charleston’s stands at 16%. The community is seeking solutions to alleviate the impact of these evictions through educational initiatives and proposed housing courts. The ongoing crisis has brought significant emotional and financial challenges for tenants and landlords alike, raising concerns about homelessness and housing access.
Greenville and Charleston are grappling with alarming eviction rates, with Greenville ranking second highest in the nation and Charleston third, according to data from Princeton University’s Eviction Lab. Greenville’s eviction rate stands at 20%, affecting approximately one in five renters with over 14,751 eviction papers served between June 2024 and June 2025. Meanwhile, Charleston’s eviction rate is at 16%, with 10,502 eviction papers filed during the same period. Richmond, Virginia holds the title for the highest eviction rate in the nation at 24%.
Greenville’s eviction rate has showed a slight improvement over the previous year, decreasing by 1% from 2023-2014. In contrast, Charleston’s eviction rate has risen by 2%. Since March 2020, Greenville County has seen a staggering 55,252 eviction cases filed, making it the second highest in South Carolina. The rate of eviction filings in Greenville County is 25%, exceeding both the South Carolina average of 23% and the national average of 8%.
Eviction is not just a legal issue; it brings about significant emotional and financial challenges for both tenants and landlords. It often leads to homelessness and complicates access to housing. Major triggers for eviction include nonpayment of rent, violations of lease terms, and failure to vacate after a lease expires, with approximately 70% of eviction cases linked to nonpayment of rent. This phenomenon is frequently impacted by unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses or sudden job loss.
Furthermore, eviction filings remain on tenants’ public records indefinitely, even if they succeed in court, which can hinder their chances of securing housing in the future. Many tenants are unable to afford legal representation during eviction hearings, adding further obstacles during these challenging situations.
To address these growing concerns, a community strategy paper titled “Eviction in Greenville County: A Solutions Oriented Approach” was released in November 2024. The paper was developed through collaboration among various stakeholders and aims to mitigate the negative impacts of eviction by implementing educational initiatives for both tenants and landlords on their rights and responsibilities.
Economic shifts due to the surge in remote work in South Carolina, which increased by 135% from 2019 to 2023, have also played a role in the housing crisis. The demand for coworking spaces has risen, but incidents like the recent eviction of Thrive, a coworking operator in Charleston, highlight instability in the market. Thrive was forced to vacate its Meeting Street location with five days’ notice due to a substantial delinquent rental payment totaling $219,000.
The landlord, Highland Ventures, initiated the eviction process following extended unpaid rent, which also disrupted many of Thrive’s tenants who had to scramble for alternative office spaces. The trend is not isolated, as other coworking providers, including Serendipity Labs, have also shut down locations in the area, indicating broader instability.
Proposed solutions to tackle the housing crisis and high eviction rates include improving the process for expunging eviction records and establishing a specialized housing court in Greenville County to assist tenants facing evictions. These initiatives aim to alleviate some of the urgency surrounding housing accessibility and improve the overall situation for renters in these cities.
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Additional Resources
- Spectrum Local News: South Carolina Cities High Eviction Rate
- Post and Courier: Charleston Thrive Coworking Eviction
- Greenville Journal: Greenville County High Eviction Numbers
- Post and Courier: Greenville County Eviction Housing Court
- Fox Carolina: Greenville County Housing Court Program
- Wikipedia: Eviction
- Google Search: South Carolina eviction rates
- Google Scholar: Evictions in South Carolina
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Eviction
- Google News: South Carolina eviction crisis
