South Carolina Fair Housing and Broker Duties
South Carolina licensees must comply with the state Fair Housing Law and supervise licensees to avoid discriminatory practices. This chapter covers the law, advertising compliance, and steering.
Fair Housing Law (Title 31, Chapter 21)
The South Carolina Fair Housing Law prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental, and financing of housing based on protected classes, paralleling the federal Fair Housing Act. Licensees must comply in advertising, showing, and negotiating, and may not discriminate or steer based on protected class.
Advertising Compliance
A supervising broker must ensure firm advertising is truthful, identifies the brokerage as required, and does not discriminate based on protected class. Discriminatory or misleading advertising exposes the broker to discipline, and the broker is responsible for advertising conducted under the firm.
Steering
Steering is directing prospective buyers toward or away from neighborhoods based on a protected class, and it is prohibited. Legitimate services such as discussing financing, recommending inspectors, or preparing a market analysis are not steering. A broker must train and supervise licensees to avoid it.