Can Property Management Commission apply if you self manage Apts?

[Rick T.]

Hello,

We have a difficult tenant whose lease we did not renew.  She was just trying to create trouble by filing complaint to Fair Housing for discrimination.  We got enough evidence for that.

Now she took a property manager exam and said she will be meeting with Commission to complaint against our property management practices to start investigation.  My question is, since we self manage can property management commission do an investigation.  I assume if she has issue then she can file with Magistrate like summons and complaint for something.  Btw, its an apartment complex in South Carolina.

Thank you so much in advance!

[Fred Heller]

Even if you self-manage you are still subject to federal, state, and local laws like Fair Housing. So yes, she can file a complaint. Can she win is the question.

It probably wouldn't be through your state real estate commission. There's probably some other agency that enforces whatever law she claims you've violated. Here in Texas, the Texas Workforce Commission investigates allegations of Texas Fair Housing Law violations. The Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division handles general tenant-landlord complaints.

Good luck!

BTW not giving legal advice. Just passing along an opinion.