This bill would remove eviction filings from public court records after a set time period.
In cases where an eviction filing ends with Orders of Eviction, a Writ of Ejectment, resolution by settlement, or resolution by subsequent payment, the eviction record must be removed from the public court index six years after the final deposition.
We support this bill because: Having an eviction on your record shouldn’t be a permanent barrier to housing. The unfortunate reality today is that, if a person has an eviction filing on their record, many landlords will not even consider a rental application from a tenant.
Several South Carolina counties have some of the highest eviction filing rates in the country. Because of the state’s unusually low eviction filing fee, some landlords use the threat of eviction as a rent collection tool. As a result, some tenants have multiple eviction filings on their permanent court record, even if they have never actually been evicted.
In an ongoing housing crisis, many South Carolinians need a fresh start to access housing. Our state can give people that fresh start by sealing eviction records after a reasonable period of time.
