S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-150
Coordination regarding complaint filed with multiple agencies
Operative Text
Before accepting any complaint under this chapter, the commission shall determine if the complainant has filed a similar complaint with the Federal Home Loan Bank Board, the Comptroller of the Currency, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation of the Federal Reserve System, the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, or any other agency with authority to investigate and resolve complaints alleging a violation of this chapter. If a complaint has been filed or is filed, subsequently the commission shall coordinate efforts to resolve the complaint with that agency in order to avoid multiple investigations of the respondent.
Section 31-21-150 of the South Carolina Code establishes a coordination requirement before a housing-discrimination complaint moves forward with the state commission. Specifically, the commission must check whether the same complainant has already filed a similar complaint with a federal agency—such as HUD or federal banking regulators—covering the same alleged violation. If such a parallel complaint exists or is later filed, the commission is required to work jointly with that other agency rather than conduct a fully separate, duplicative investigation of the same respondent.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-150, a property owner or manager who becomes the subject of a housing-discrimination complaint may find that the South Carolina commission coordinates its review with a federal agency if the complainant has filed in both venues. Compliant operators generally maintain thorough, organized records of their rental practices and communications, since those records may be relevant across multiple agency proceedings. Being aware that inter-agency coordination is a built-in feature of this process helps operators understand why they might receive inquiries from more than one regulatory body regarding the same underlying facts.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
S.C. Code Ann. § 31-21-150 is designed in part to protect complainants from having their case fall through the cracks when it has been filed with more than one agency. If a person files a housing-discrimination complaint with both the South Carolina commission and a federal body such as HUD, the agencies are directed to coordinate rather than work at cross-purposes. Tenants who believe they have experienced a violation covered by this chapter may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or fair-housing advocacy group to understand how filing with multiple agencies can affect the timeline and handling of their complaint.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 16, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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