Housing
How to Avoid a Home Improvement Scam
Before you hire a contractor, learn how to recognize the signs of a home improvement scam.
How to File a Discrimination Charge
This web page, from the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) web site, shows you how to file a discrimination charge if you believe you have been discriminated against by an employer, labor union or employment agency when applying for a job or while on the job because of your race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, or disability, or believe that you have been discriminated against because of opposing a prohibited practice or participating in an equal employment opportunity matter.
How to File a Housing Discrimination Complaint with HUD
Federal law prohibits housing discrimination based on your race, color, national origin, religion, sex, family status, or disability. If you have been trying to buy or rent a home or apartment and you believe your rights have been violated, you can file a fair housing complaint.
How To Protect Your Section 8 Voucher (PowerPoint Slides)
How To Protect Your Section 8 Voucher PowerPoint slide presentation for South Carolina Legal Services' Level Up Law series.
HUD Homes (Answers to Common Questions)
This web page explains how to buy a HUD Home and provides links to properties that are available near you for purchase from HUD. When someone with a mortgage insured by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can't meet their payments, the lender forecloses on the home. HUD pays the lender what is owed and HUD takes ownership of the home. Then HUD sells it at market value as quickly as possible.
HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program
Law enforcement officers, pre-Kindergarten through 12th grade teachers and firefighters/emergency medical technicians can contribute to community revitalization while becoming homeowners through HUD's Good Neighbor Next Door Sales Program. HUD offers a substantial incentive in the form of a discount of 50% from the list price of the home. In return you must commit to live in the property for 36 months as your sole residence.
Information for Disabled Persons
This page is designed to answer frequently asked questions on the housing rights of people with disabilities and the responsibilities of housing providers and building and design professionals under federal law.
Information on Utility Allowances for Residents in Subsidized Housing.
If you live in federally subsidized housing, a utility allowance is an amount you receive to cover reasonable utility bills. If the utility allowance is too low, you are being overcharged for rent. This pamphlet helps you determine if there is a problem with your utility allowance and what to do about it.
Is It Better to Buy or Rent?
There are many advantages to buying a home versus renting one. This web site helps you compare the two situations. View these advantages in the Buy vs. Rent Comparison Chart, or view a financial comparison of buying versus renting in the Buy vs. Rent Calculator.
Leases
Lawline FAQ: When a person wants to rent an apartment or some other type of dwelling the person, called the Tenant, enters into an agreement with the owner of the property, the Landlord, spelling out the terms and conditions of the rental of the property. Such an agreement is called a Lease, and a Lease may be one of two types, an oral Lease or a written Lease.
Legal Tools to End Youth Homelessness
Provides information on federal laws that can help homeless/runaway youth.
Let FHA Loans Help You
FHA loans have been helping people become homeowners since 1934. How do we do it? The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) - which is part of HUD - insures the loan, so your lender can offer you a better deal. Low down payments. Low closing costs. Easy credit qualifying.
Level Up Law: Rent Smart—Basic Landlord Tenant Law In South Carolina
SCLS attorney and housing law unit head, Mark Fessler, talks about the rights and obligations of tenants and landlords under the South Carolina law. These rights often originate in the rental agreement. He discusses the rights of landlords and tenants in regards to: *Payment of rent *Maintaining the property *Access to the property *Security deposits *Terminating leases *Navigating eviction Learn more about what to consider when renting at https://sclegal.org/brochures/10-thin... Are you being evicted? More information here http://sclegal.org/wp-content/uploads... For other resources on landlord-tenant issues, check out https://www.learnthelaw.org/group/502... Have questions on a housing issue? Find more insight at our free legal classroom on housing issues at https://www.lawhelp.org/sc/issues/hou... For more resources and assistance on this and other legal issues, visit https://www.lawhelp.org/sc Apply for help online at https://www.lawhelp.org/sc/online-intake, or call our intake line 1 (888) 346-5592 Visit our website https://sclegal.org/ for more Shunna V. Jeter, Executive Director, shunnajeter@sclegal.org South Carolina Legal Services is a statewide law firm that provides civil legal services to protect the rights and represent the interests of low-income South Carolinians. To stay up to date on what we are doing at SC Legal Services, follow us on Instagram and Twitter @sclegal and Facebook at South Carolina Legal Services.