Mississippi Landlord-Tenant Law

Maximum deposit

Mississippi sets no statutory limit on the amount of a residential security deposit (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21). (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 (no amount limit) (2024 H.B. 1580 text))

Return deadline

Landlords must return any remaining deposit within 45 days after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered and the tenant demands it (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3)). (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3) (2024 H.B. 1580 text))

Itemized deductions

A landlord keeping any part of the deposit must claim it by written notice that itemizes the amounts claimed (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3)). (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3) (2024 H.B. 1580 text))

Interest on deposits

Mississippi law does not require landlords to pay interest on security deposits (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21). (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 (silent on interest) (2024 H.B. 1580 text))

Penalty for wrongful withholding

A landlord who keeps a deposit in violation of the statute and in bad faith may owe up to $200 on top of actual damages (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(4)). (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(4) (2024 H.B. 1580 text))

Late-fee limit

Mississippi has no statute capping residential late fees, though courts may refuse to enforce an unreasonable fee (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-1 et seq.). (Miss. Code Ann. Title 89, ch. 8, Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (silent on late fees) (2024 H.B. 1580 text))

Grace period

Mississippi law sets no grace period before a late fee may be charged; the lease controls (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-1 et seq.). (Miss. Code Ann. Title 89, ch. 8 (silent on grace periods) (2024 H.B. 1580 text))

Mississippi's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act contains no landlord-access or entry-notice provision, so the lease governs when and how a landlord may enter (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-1 et seq.). (Miss. Code Ann. Title 89, ch. 8 (no entry provision) (2024 H.B. 1580 text))

Either a Mississippi landlord or tenant may end a month-to-month tenancy with written notice given at least 30 days before the termination date (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-19(3)). (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-19(3) (as amended by 2022 SB 2461, § 11), Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-19 (2024 H.B. 1580 text))

Mississippi sets no rent-increase notice period; a landlord may demand higher rent after a lease expires if the increase is not retaliatory, and on a month-to-month tenancy the cautious practice is at least 30 days' written notice to match the termination rule (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 89-8-17(2), 89-8-19(3)). (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-17(2) (2024 H.B. 1580 text), Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-19(3))

Mississippi has no rent control law; the Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Miss. Code §§ 89-8-1 et seq.) regulates leases and evictions but not rent amounts. (Mississippi Legislature (links to the official Lexis code), Miss. Code § 21-17-5 (municipal home-rule powers), archived Justia copy)

Mississippi's landlord-tenant act requires no state-specific move-in disclosures, but landlords of pre-1978 housing must give the federal lead-paint disclosure and EPA pamphlet before the lease is signed (42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR Part 745). (40 CFR Part 745 Subpart F)

• Lead-based paint disclosure and EPA pamphlet (Housing built before 1978) — 42 U.S.C. § 4852d; 40 CFR Part 745 Subpart F

Unpaid rent

For unpaid rent, give written notice (or email or text if the tenant agreed in writing) that the rental agreement will end unless rent is paid within 3 days, and attach a copy of that notice when you file for eviction (Miss. Code §§ 89-8-13(5)(a), 89-8-33). (Miss. Code §§ 89-8-13(5), 89-8-31, 89-8-33 (2022 SB 2461, §§ 1-2, 10), Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-13 (2024 H.B. 1580 text))

• In effect since April 21, 2022.

Lease violations

For a material lease violation, give written notice describing the breach and that the agreement ends at least 14 days after receipt unless the tenant fixes it within a reasonable time of no more than 14 days; a repeat within 6 months allows 14 days' notice with no cure (Miss. Code § 89-8-13(3)). (Miss. Code § 89-8-13(3) (2022 SB 2461, § 10), Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-13 (2024 H.B. 1580 text))

• In effect since April 21, 2022.