Insider’s Guide to Renting a Home in Downtown Charleston

Handsome Properties February 12, 2021

Long-term rental properties in downtown Charleston are in high demand for a number of reasons. Charleston’s highly-rated restaurant and entertainment scene is centered downtown, along with the shops, cafes, and boutiques clustered along and near King Street.

Living in downtown Charleston puts you in the most central location to reach the beaches, golf courses, and outdoor recreational areas in nearby communities such as James Island, Folly Beach, Sullivan’s Island, and the Isle of Palms. And from downtown Charleston, you can commute anywhere in the Lowcountry to work. If you’re fortunate enough to work downtown, you may even have a walkable commute.

We pooled our knowledge to come up with this insider’s guide to long-term renting in downtown Charleston. It’s meant especially for newcomers to the Charleston area. While a boots-on-the-ground visit to Charleston is still the best way to experience the city and look for long-term rental properties, the next best thing is to work with a Handsome Homes agent.

Our agents live here and can share their thorough knowledge of the area. They also know what’s on the rental market and all the pros and cons of each location. Contact us today to start your long-term rental search!

Downtown Charleston Sits on a Peninsula

Let’s start with a bit of a geography lesson to get a sense of location. Downtown Charleston is located on a peninsula surrounded on three sides by water. The Ashley River borders downtown on the west. The Cooper River borders downtown on the east. They meet at Charleston Harbor to flow into the Atlantic Ocean. This location means that no spot in Charleston is far from the water.

Peninsular cities often connect to other places via bridges, and downtown Charleston is no exception. Charleston is home to the exceptionally beautiful Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, which spans the Cooper River to connect downtown Charleston to the city of Mount Pleasant.

To the west, the T. Allen Legare Bridge spans the Ashley River to connect the downtown district to West Ashley. Downtown Charleston and James Island are linked across the Ashley River by the Robert B. Scarborough Bridge over the James Island Expressway.

The location of a home is more than an address. A home’s location affects many quality of life factors, including commuting and driving routes. A rental home on the west side of downtown Charleston is closer to West Ashley, James Island, and Folly Beach. Rental properties on the east side are closer to Mount Pleasant and the beaches at Sullivan’s Island and the Isle of Palms.

King Street Is Downtown Charleston’s Main Street

From its beginnings as a colonial city, Charleston was laid out in a geometric grid of streets with rectangular lots and public squares. King Street runs north and south, bisecting the downtown area and forming Charleston’s “main street.” King Street is Charleston’s major shopping, dining, and entertainment street.

Several other well-known streets count as Charleston landmarks:

Meeting Street runs parallel to King Street. A one-mile section of Meeting Street makes up Charleston’s Museum Mile where you will find six museums and five nationally known historic homes.
Broad Street runs east and west across downtown and forms the boundary of South of Broad, Charleston’s most prestigious neighborhood. South of Broad covers the blocks that make up the southernmost tip of the Charleston peninsula. Here’s where you’ll find some of Charleston’s oldest and best preserved homes. Many homes were built before the Civil War. A walking tour in South of Broad is like a trip through American history, thanks to the range of architectural styles packed into this small area.
Extending along Charleston’s east side, East Bay Street offers a faster way to reach South of Broad by car. Along and off East Bay Street, you’ll find the South Carolina Aquarium (do not miss a visit here), the ferries that go to Fort Sumter, and the block of pastel-hued townhomes that make up Charleston’s famed Rainbow Row.

Downtown Charleston Comprises Multiple Neighborhoods

Tourists from all over the world come to Charleston for the cuisine and the many cultural delights of the downtown district. But when you’re looking for rental properties, you’ll notice that downtown Charleston is a residential city made up of many neighborhoods, each with its own vibe and atmosphere.

Our sister site, Handsome Properties, has an excellent neighborhood guide for downtown Charleston with detailed profiles of downtown neighborhoods. It’s a great way to get the inside scoop on housing styles and neighborhood amenities.

Charleston Rental Properties Can Be Traditional or Modern

One thing you won’t find in Charleston are skyscrapers. A city ordinance long on the books prohibits buildings taller than the tallest church steeple, which is the one that tops St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church. You will see lots of church steeples in downtown Charleston, which is one reason why Charleston is called the Holy City.

That said, there are rental properties in downtown Charleston that are modern. The majority, however, are located in traditional buildings with Charleston-centric architectural details like porches, balconies, verandahs, gardens, and private gardens sheltered by walls.

A Saved Search Lets Rental Homes Come to You

Looking for a home to rent can feel like a full-time job. Our best advice is to set up a saved search on our website that delivers rental listings to your email in-box. Our saved search feature allows you to: