Landlord Insurance in South Carolina: Costs, Requirements & Best Providers
Landlord insurance in South Carolina costs more than the national average. The homeowners benchmark is $3,205 a year, and a landlord (DP-3) policy typically runs about $3,700 to $4,000. Coastal rentals from Myrtle Beach to Hilton Head cost more, and many need wind coverage from the state's Wind and Hail Underwriting Association. Get a landlord insurance quote for the exact address, and price flood at the same time.
By LandlordTested editorial teamPrices checked
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What landlords pay in South Carolina
- Homeowners benchmark
- $3,205 a yearAbout $267 a month; 29% above the $2,490 national average.
- Estimated landlord policy
- $3,700-$4,000 a yearLandlord (DP-3) cover typically runs 15-25% above homeowners cover on the same building. Your quote will differ.
- Main hazards
- Hurricane, Coastal flood/storm surge, Tornado, Wind, Hail
- Not included
- Flood and earthquakeBoth need separate policies (NFIP or private flood; earthquake endorsement or policy).
Source: NerdWallet, 2026 homeowners (HO-3) median, $400,000 dwelling cover
Landlord insurance providers in South Carolina
Both write landlord policies in all 50 states and quote online. Neither publishes prices, so the only way to know your premium is to get a quote for your address.
- 1
Steadily
Our pickSingle-family and 2-4 unit rentals, including vacant and short-term.
8.5/10 provisionalPrice
Quote-based
Pros, cons and who should skip itHide details
Good
- Covers all 50 states.
- Fast online quotes.
- Writes vacant and renovation properties too.
Watch out
- Mixed claim experiences, including wear-and-tear denials.
- Underwritten through a carrier some lenders have queried.
- Flood needs a separate policy.
Skip it if
Anyone who wants a local agent sitting across the desk.
- 2
Obie
Investors with several properties; portfolio policies available.
8.1/10 provisionalPrice
Quote-based
Pros, cons and who should skip itHide details
Good
- All 50 states plus DC.
- Portfolio (blanket) policies for several rentals.
- Covers short-term rentals and renovations.
Watch out
- Claims run through third-party administrators.
- Some reports of non-renewal after claims.
- Support is mostly email.
Skip it if
Landlords who want claims handled by the company they bought from.
Prices checked Oct 18, 2026. Scores are provisional until our account tests are done.
Want to see how South Carolina compares? We keep a table of landlord insurance rates by state, with the method behind every figure.
On this page
The coast is a separate insurance market
Along the Grand Strand, Charleston, Beaufort and the Lowcountry, hurricanes set the price. Hugo in 1989 still shapes how insurers view the coast. Expect a percentage hurricane or named-storm deductible on most coastal policies, and expect some carriers to decline wind coverage near the water entirely.
When that happens, the South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association, often called the Wind Pool, writes wind and hail coverage for designated coastal areas. You then buy a landlord policy that excludes wind for everything else. Keep both deductibles in mind: on a $300,000 dwelling limit, a 5% wind deductible is $15,000 out of pocket after a storm.
Flood: coast, tides and rivers
Charleston deals with regular tidal flooding, and storm surge is the big coastal risk. Inland, the 2015 floods and Florence in 2018 showed that rivers and heavy rain do serious damage too. None of it is covered by a landlord policy. Flood coverage comes from the National Flood Insurance Program or a private carrier, with a 30-day wait on most NFIP policies. An elevation certificate can make a large difference to a coastal flood quote.
Tornadoes and hail upstate
Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson and the Midlands see severe thunderstorms, hail and tornadoes, some of them spun off by tropical systems moving inland. These are covered on a standard landlord policy, subject to your deductible.
What lenders require
Lenders require a landlord (dwelling) policy naming them as mortgagee, with dwelling coverage at least equal to the loan or rebuild cost. On the coast, they’ll require proof of wind coverage, from the same carrier or the Wind Pool. Flood insurance is mandatory on federally backed loans in a special flood hazard area, and investor lenders often add loss-of-rent coverage.
Ways to pay less
- Ask for wind mitigation credits for hurricane straps, impact-rated windows, shutters and roof-deck attachment. Get an inspection to document them.
- Re-roof to the IBHS FORTIFIED standard on coastal rentals and ask each insurer for the discount.
- Get an elevation certificate before you shop for flood.
- Raise the all-perils deductible while keeping the hurricane deductible at a level your reserves can cover.
- Insure several rentals together. Obie offers portfolio policies, and both Steadily and Obie quote online.
South Carolina deposit rules
South Carolina sets no cap on deposits (S.C. Code Ann. § 27-40-410). Return it within 30 days with a written itemization of deductions. Willful noncompliance can cost three times the amount wrongfully withheld plus attorney fees, one of the stiffer penalties in the country. After a storm, document damage carefully to separate what the tenant caused from what your insurer should pay.
Questions landlords ask
The questions we get most, each answered in a paragraph.
How much is landlord insurance in South Carolina?
South Carolina's homeowners benchmark is $3,205 a year for $400,000 of dwelling coverage (NerdWallet 2026). Landlord policies typically run 15% to 25% higher, or about $3,700 to $4,000. A rental in Greenville or Rock Hill and one on a barrier island near Charleston will land far apart, so only a quote on the actual address is reliable.
What is the South Carolina Wind Pool?
The South Carolina Wind and Hail Underwriting Association writes wind and hail coverage for properties in designated coastal areas when private insurers won't. You pair it with a separate policy that covers everything else, such as fire, liability and water damage. That means two policies, two deductibles and two renewals to track.
Is flood insurance worth it for an inland South Carolina rental?
Often, yes. The October 2015 floods hit Columbia and the Midlands far from the coast, and Hurricane Florence in 2018 flooded the Pee Dee region. Landlord policies exclude flood, and NFIP coverage outside high-risk zones can cost far less than owners expect. Policies usually take 30 days to start.