Short Notice Inspection or a Fine
April 3, 2025 Short-Notice Inspection Email – Meridian Threatens Fee and Lease Violation
Document Overview
Charleston County Court of Common Pleas Case number: 2025-CP-10-05095
Filing Date: October 24, 2025
Document: April 3-4, 2025 Inspection email thread between Plaintiffs and Meridian Residential Group, LLC
Part of: Motion for Leave to File Second Amended Complaint - Part of Exhibit N of the Second Amended Complaint which is Exhibit A of the Motion
Executive Summary
This exhibit publishes the April 2–3, 2025 email exchange where Meridian staff insisted on a next‑day “unit inspection” at 181 Gordon Street with less than 24 hours’ notice, threatened a $125 charge and a possible “lease violation” if access was denied.
They also refused a reasonable rescheduling request so the household could plan around work and care for their elderly disabled dog, Rocket the Carolina Dog.
The thread shows Plaintiffs asking basic questions any reasonable tenant would ask: what time the inspection would occur, what it involved, and whether it could be rescheduled so they could both manage client meetings and safely supervise their dog.
Meridian’s response the next morning stated flatly that “the inspection cannot be rescheduled” and locked in a 1:00 p.m. entry time, reinforcing the threat structure in the original blast email.
In the Motion for Leave to File the Second Amended Complaint, this communication is cited as part of a broader pattern where Meridian repeatedly misstated or overstated South Carolina landlord–tenant law, used fees and “lease violation” language as pressure tactics, and escalated when tenants asserted rights or asked for accommodation, conduct Plaintiffs allege laid the groundwork for later retaliation when they would not accept bullying or illegal terms.
Why this email matters for housing justice
- It illustrates how “access denied = fee + violation” tactics can be used to intimidate tenants who are simply trying to coordinate around work and family obligations.
- It documents that Plaintiffs’ posture remained cooperative and solution‑focused - asking for a workable time, clarifying the scope of the inspection, and emphasizing safety for an elderly dog - undercutting any narrative that they were “difficult tenants.”
- It supports claims that retaliation later followed not from non‑cooperation, but from tenants simply questioning overreaching demands and insisting on lawful, humane treatment in the middle of Charleston’s housing crisis.
You can review the full April 3, 2025 short‑notice inspection email exhibit exactly as filed with the Court by viewing or downloading the PDF below.
South Carolina Right of Entry (S.C. Code § 27‑40‑530(c))
- Landlords must give tenants at least 24 hours’ notice before entering for non‑emergency reasons (inspections, routine maintenance, showings).
- Entry must be at reasonable times, typically within daytime hours.
- The right of access cannot be used to harass the tenant.
For questions about this exhibit, contact:
Chris McNeil, Pro Se Plaintiff
Email: Click here to email with web form
Case: 2025-CP-10-05095, Charleston County Court of Common Pleas
Document Access
April 3-4, 2025 Short‑Notice Inspection Email
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