Mississippi · Renters' rights · Updated Oct 2026
Mississippi tenant rights
Security deposits, repairs, landlord entry, notices and evictions in Mississippi, in plain English from official sources, with free tools to get your deposit back and ask for repairs.
Guides for Mississippi renters
Security deposit
Limit, deadline, deductions, penalty and the calculator.
Repairs
The landlord's duty, repair and deduct, withholding rent and a repair letter.
Eviction
Notice periods, court deadlines, illegal lockouts and a timeline tool.
Security deposit in Mississippi
- Limit
- no statewide limit
- Deadline to return it
- The landlord must return what is left of the deposit no later than 45 days after all of these happen: your tenancy ends, you give back possession, and you ask for the deposit. Ask in writing and give your new address.
- Itemized list
- Yes. The landlord must claim any part of the deposit by written notice that itemizes the amounts claimed. Receipts are not required by the statute.
- What may be deducted
- Only amounts reasonably needed to cover unpaid rent, repair damage you caused beyond ordinary wear and tear, clean the unit at the end of the tenancy, or other reasonable and necessary expenses caused by your default, if the deposit was made for those purposes.
- Interest
- no
- If the landlord keeps it wrongly
- If the landlord keeps the deposit in violation of the law and without good faith, you can recover your actual damages plus up to $200 more (Miss. Code §89-8-21(4)).
How to get your deposit back
- Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
- Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Mississippi: Ask in writing and give your new address.
- Wait for the deadline: The landlord must return what is left of the deposit no later than 45 days after all of these happen: your tenancy ends, you give back possession, and you ask for the deposit.
- If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
- If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $3,500 in Justice Court. Small claims court in Mississippi on Small Claims Map
Repairs in Mississippi
- The landlord's duty
- The landlord must follow building and housing codes that materially affect health and safety, and keep the unit and its plumbing, heating and cooling in substantially the same condition as at move-in, reasonable wear and tear excluded, unless you or your guests caused the damage (Miss. Code §89-8-23).
- How to ask for repairs
- Give the landlord written notice of the specific defect. The landlord has 30 days to repair before you can use repair-and-deduct. You can also give a 14-day notice to end the lease for a material breach (Miss. Code §89-8-13).
- Repair and deduct
- Allowed with limits. If the landlord does not repair a specific, material defect within 30 days after your written notice, you may make the repair and get reimbursed within 45 days after giving the landlord receipted bills, or offset the cost against future rent. Limits: the cost may not exceed one month's rent or the usual and customary charge; you must be current on rent, have met your own duties, and not have used this remedy in the past 6 months (Miss. Code §89-8-15).
- Withholding rent
- not allowed (no rent escrow statute; only the repair-and-deduct remedy above).
- Law
- Miss. Code Ann. §§89-8-13, 89-8-15, 89-8-23
Landlord entry in Mississippi
no statute
Eviction in Mississippi
- Notice for unpaid rent
- A written 3-day notice (or by email or text if you agreed in writing) saying the lease will end if the rent is not paid within 3 days (Miss. Code §89-8-13(5)). The statute does not say whether weekends count.
- Notice for a lease violation
- A written 14-day notice describing the breach; if you fix it within 14 days, the lease does not end. A repeat of the same breach within 6 months allows termination on 14 days' notice (Miss. Code §89-8-13(3)).
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- 30 days' written notice from either side; week-to-week, 7 days. No notice is needed for a substantial violation that materially affects health or safety (Miss. Code §89-8-19). After a fixed-term lease ends, the landlord may give a 3-day notice before filing (§89-8-17).
- Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
- The summons names a hearing date; go to the hearing and present any defense. If the landlord wins, you usually get at least 7 days to move out. In a nonpayment case, you do not have to move if you pay everything owed before the hearing or by the court-ordered move-out date (Miss. Code §§89-8-35, 89-8-39).
- Lockouts and utility shutoffs
- The Act sets out a court process: removal only by warrant executed by the sheriff or constable after a judgment (Miss. Code §§89-8-31 to 89-8-39). After removal you get 72 hours of reasonable access to get your belongings. No statute sets a specific penalty for lockouts or utility shutoffs. Since March 25, 2026 (HB 1404), it is a crime for a landlord who collected utility money under a lease to knowingly fail to pay the utility bill within 60 days of receiving it.
- Court self-help
- The court's eviction self-help page
- Law
- Miss. Code Ann. §§89-8-13, 89-8-17, 89-8-19, 89-8-31 to 89-8-41
Rent increases and rent control in Mississippi
- Notice of a rent increase
- no statute; for month-to-month, the landlord can end the tenancy with 30 days' notice. After a lease ends, the landlord may demand higher rent unless the main purpose is retaliation (Miss. Code §89-8-17).
- Rent control
- No statewide rent control or rent cap.
Late fees in Mississippi
no statute
Retaliation in Mississippi
Limited. After a lease expires, a landlord may not raise rent or start eviction with the dominant purpose of retaliating against you for actions the Act allows (such as written repair complaints) (Miss. Code §89-8-17(2)). No general retaliation statute with a presumption period.
Small claims court in Mississippi
Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer.
Limit: $3,500 in Justice Court.
Where to get free help in Mississippi
Good to know in Mississippi
- In a nonpayment case you can stop the eviction by paying all rent and sums owed in the judgment by the court-ordered move-out date; the landlord must accept full payment in good faith (Miss. Code §89-8-39(4)).
- Repair-and-deduct only works if you are current on rent and the repair costs no more than one month's rent.
- If you stay after a fixed-term lease ends and the landlord told you to leave, the landlord may charge double rent unless the lease says otherwise (Miss. Code §89-8-45).
Recent law changes
SB 2328 (2025, approved April 10, 2025) amended §§89-8-35 and 89-8-39 to clarify the eviction summons language and that you must be given reasonable access for 72 hours after removal to get your property. HB 1404 (2026, approved March 25, 2026) made it a crime for a landlord who received utility payments under a lease to knowingly fail to pay the utility. Bills in 2025-2026 to change repair rules and eviction time periods died in committee.
Free tools for Mississippi renters
Pre-set for Mississippi. They run in your browser and send nothing.
Deposit return calculator for Mississippi
Find your state's deadline for returning a security deposit, whether your landlord is late and what you may be owed. Nothing you type here is sent anywhere.
Security deposit demand letter for Mississippi
A short, firm and polite letter asking your landlord to return your deposit by a date. It cites your state's deposit law. Many landlords pay at this step, and the letter is proof that you asked. Fill this in, download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it), sign it, keep a copy and send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt.
Repair request letter for Mississippi
Ask your landlord in writing to fix the problem by a date. A written, dated request is the first step in almost every state, and it is proof that the landlord knew. Check the problems, add dates, then download the letter as PDF or Word (or copy it). Sign it, keep a copy and photos, and send it in a way you can prove.
Eviction notice timeline for Mississippi
Got a notice from your landlord? Enter the kind of notice and the day you got it to see the dates that follow from your state's rule, what your landlord may not do, and where to get free help fast.
This is not legal advice. Eviction deadlines are short and missing one can cost you your home. Read your notice carefully and contact legal aid or your court's self-help center right away.
Questions about renters' rights in Mississippi
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Mississippi?
no statewide limit
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Mississippi?
The landlord must return what is left of the deposit no later than 45 days after all of these happen: your tenancy ends, you give back possession, and you ask for the deposit. Ask in writing and give your new address.
What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Mississippi?
If the landlord keeps the deposit in violation of the law and without good faith, you can recover your actual damages plus up to $200 more (Miss. Code §89-8-21(4)).
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Mississippi?
Only amounts reasonably needed to cover unpaid rent, repair damage you caused beyond ordinary wear and tear, clean the unit at the end of the tenancy, or other reasonable and necessary expenses caused by your default, if the deposit was made for those purposes.
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Mississippi?
no
How do I ask my landlord for repairs in Mississippi?
Give the landlord written notice of the specific defect. The landlord has 30 days to repair before you can use repair-and-deduct. You can also give a 14-day notice to end the lease for a material breach (Miss. Code §89-8-13).
Can I repair and deduct the cost from rent in Mississippi?
Allowed with limits. If the landlord does not repair a specific, material defect within 30 days after your written notice, you may make the repair and get reimbursed within 45 days after giving the landlord receipted bills, or offset the cost against future rent. Limits: the cost may not exceed one month's rent or the usual and customary charge; you must be current on rent, have met your own duties, and not have used this remedy in the past 6 months (Miss. Code §89-8-15).
Can I withhold rent for repairs in Mississippi?
not allowed (no rent escrow statute; only the repair-and-deduct remedy above).
How much notice does a landlord need to enter in Mississippi?
no statute
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Mississippi?
A written 3-day notice (or by email or text if you agreed in writing) saying the lease will end if the rent is not paid within 3 days (Miss. Code §89-8-13(5)). The statute does not say whether weekends count.
How much notice for a lease violation in Mississippi?
A written 14-day notice describing the breach; if you fix it within 14 days, the lease does not end. A repeat of the same breach within 6 months allows termination on 14 days' notice (Miss. Code §89-8-13(3)).
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Mississippi?
30 days' written notice from either side; week-to-week, 7 days. No notice is needed for a substantial violation that materially affects health or safety (Miss. Code §89-8-19). After a fixed-term lease ends, the landlord may give a 3-day notice before filing (§89-8-17).
How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Mississippi?
The summons names a hearing date; go to the hearing and present any defense. If the landlord wins, you usually get at least 7 days to move out. In a nonpayment case, you do not have to move if you pay everything owed before the hearing or by the court-ordered move-out date (Miss. Code §§89-8-35, 89-8-39).
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Mississippi?
The Act sets out a court process: removal only by warrant executed by the sheriff or constable after a judgment (Miss. Code §§89-8-31 to 89-8-39). After removal you get 72 hours of reasonable access to get your belongings. No statute sets a specific penalty for lockouts or utility shutoffs. Since March 25, 2026 (HB 1404), it is a crime for a landlord who collected utility money under a lease to knowingly fail to pay the utility bill within 60 days of receiving it.
How much notice is needed for a rent increase in Mississippi?
no statute; for month-to-month, the landlord can end the tenancy with 30 days' notice. After a lease ends, the landlord may demand higher rent unless the main purpose is retaliation (Miss. Code §89-8-17).
Is there rent control in Mississippi?
No statewide rent control or rent cap.
Is there a limit on late fees in Mississippi?
no statute
Can my landlord retaliate if I complain in Mississippi?
Limited. After a lease expires, a landlord may not raise rent or start eviction with the dominant purpose of retaliating against you for actions the Act allows (such as written repair complaints) (Miss. Code §89-8-17(2)). No general retaliation statute with a presumption period.
What is the small claims limit in Mississippi?
$3,500 in Justice Court.