Missouri · Renters' rights · Updated Oct 2026
Missouri tenant rights
Security deposits, repairs, landlord entry, notices and evictions in Missouri, in plain English from official sources, with free tools to get your deposit back and ask for repairs.
Guides for Missouri 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 Missouri
- Limit
- two months' rent (pet deposits are not counted as security deposits)
- Deadline to return it
- Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit, or send a written itemized list of damages along with the rest of the deposit. Mailing to your last known address counts, so give a forwarding address.
- Itemized list
- Yes: a written itemized list of damages for anything withheld. If the lease allows carpet-cleaning charges, the landlord must give you a receipt for the actual carpet cleaning cost within 30 days.
- What may be deducted
- Only amounts reasonably needed for: unpaid rent; restoring the unit to its move-in condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted (and carpet cleaning if the lease says so); and actual damages from your failure to give proper notice to end the tenancy, if the landlord tries to re-rent. The landlord must give you reasonable written notice of the move-out inspection date and time, and you may attend.
- Interest
- no (any interest earned belongs to the landlord)
- Separate account
- The deposit must be held in a federally insured bank, credit union or depository institution (not required for housing authorities or other government landlords).
- If the landlord keeps it wrongly
- Twice the amount wrongfully withheld (RSMo 535.300.6).
- Law
- RSMo 535.300
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 Missouri: Mailing to your last known address counts, so give a forwarding address.
- Wait for the deadline: Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit, or send a written itemized list of damages along with the rest of 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: $5,000. Small claims court in Missouri on Small Claims Map
Repairs in Missouri
- The landlord's duty
- No general statewide habitability statute; local housing and building codes apply, and the Attorney General says the landlord's repair duties depend mainly on the lease and local codes.
- How to ask for repairs
- Give the landlord written notice of your intent to fix the condition at the landlord's expense; the landlord has 14 days.
- Repair and deduct
- Allowed only in narrow cases. You must have lived there 6 straight months, paid all rent and charges, and had no uncured written lease violations. The problem must hurt habitability, sanitation or security and violate a local housing or building code, and cost less than $300 or half a month's rent, whichever is greater (never more than one month's rent). Give written notice; if the landlord does not fix it within 14 days (or sooner in an emergency), you may have it done and deduct the cost after giving an itemized statement with receipts. If the landlord disputes the repair in writing, you need a written certification from the city that it is a code violation first. Limit: one month's rent per 12 months (RSMo 441.234).
- Withholding rent
- not allowed; withholding rent can get you evicted. Only the repair-and-deduct remedy above.
- Law
- RSMo 441.234
Landlord entry in Missouri
no statute; check your lease.
Eviction in Missouri
- Notice for unpaid rent
- No written notice period is required. The landlord must have demanded the rent, and can then file a 'rent and possession' case right away (RSMo 535.020). You can stop the case by paying all rent owed and court costs on the judgment date; if you pay the money judgment and costs before the judgment becomes final, the eviction is stayed (RSMo 535.160).
- Notice for a lease violation
- No general statutory notice or right to cure; lease terms apply. For illegal gambling, prostitution or drug activity on the premises, the landlord must give a 10-day notice to vacate before taking possession through the legal process (RSMo 441.020, 441.040).
- Ending a month-to-month tenancy
- Written notice ending on a rent due date at least one month after it is received, from either side (RSMo 441.060).
- Time to respond to an eviction lawsuit
- The summons sets a court date no more than 21 business days after it is issued, and must be served at least 4 days before. Go to court on that date. After a judgment you have 10 days to ask to set it aside or ask for a new trial (trial de novo) (RSMo 535.030).
- Lockouts and utility shutoffs
- Yes. A landlord who removes you or your belongings, removes doors or locks, or willfully cuts electric, gas, water or sewer service without a court order (except for health or safety reasons) is guilty of forcible entry and detainer (RSMo 441.233). You can sue under chapter 534; if you win, the court orders you put back in and awards double your damages (RSMo 534.330). Exception: property left after the lawful abandonment process (RSMo 441.065).
- Law
- RSMo 441.060, 441.233, 534.330, 535.020, 535.030, 535.160
Rent increases and rent control in Missouri
- Notice of a rent increase
- no statute; for month-to-month, the landlord can change terms by ending the tenancy with one month's written notice.
- Rent control
- No. Cities and counties may not regulate rent amounts, ban source-of-income discrimination, limit security deposits, restrict tenant screening, or require a tenant right of first refusal (RSMo 441.043, expanded August 28, 2025).
Late fees in Missouri
no statute
Retaliation in Missouri
No statewide statute protecting tenants from retaliation.
Small claims court in Missouri
Deposit disputes usually go to small claims court, where you don't need a lawyer.
Limit: $5,000.
Where to get free help in Missouri
Good to know in Missouri
- Missouri does not require a pay-or-quit notice before an unpaid-rent case is filed, so act fast and go to the court date.
- Paying all back rent and court costs on the judgment date stops a nonpayment case (RSMo 535.160).
- If a judgment for possession is not carried out by the sheriff within 7 days, the landlord may change the locks with a law enforcement officer present, within 60 days of the judgment (RSMo 441.060.5).
Recent law changes
HB 595 & 343 (2025), effective August 28, 2025, expanded RSMo 441.043 so local governments may not ban source-of-income discrimination, restrict screening criteria, cap security deposits, or require tenant right of first refusal, in addition to the existing ban on local rent control.
Free tools for Missouri renters
Pre-set for Missouri. They run in your browser and send nothing.
Deposit return calculator for Missouri
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 Missouri
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 Missouri
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 Missouri
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 Missouri
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Missouri?
two months' rent (pet deposits are not counted as security deposits)
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Missouri?
Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit, or send a written itemized list of damages along with the rest of the deposit. Mailing to your last known address counts, so give a forwarding address.
What can I do if my landlord won't return my deposit in Missouri?
Twice the amount wrongfully withheld (RSMo 535.300.6).
What can a landlord deduct from a security deposit in Missouri?
Only amounts reasonably needed for: unpaid rent; restoring the unit to its move-in condition, ordinary wear and tear excepted (and carpet cleaning if the lease says so); and actual damages from your failure to give proper notice to end the tenancy, if the landlord tries to re-rent. The landlord must give you reasonable written notice of the move-out inspection date and time, and you may attend.
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Missouri?
no (any interest earned belongs to the landlord)
How do I ask my landlord for repairs in Missouri?
Give the landlord written notice of your intent to fix the condition at the landlord's expense; the landlord has 14 days.
Can I repair and deduct the cost from rent in Missouri?
Allowed only in narrow cases. You must have lived there 6 straight months, paid all rent and charges, and had no uncured written lease violations. The problem must hurt habitability, sanitation or security and violate a local housing or building code, and cost less than $300 or half a month's rent, whichever is greater (never more than one month's rent). Give written notice; if the landlord does not fix it within 14 days (or sooner in an emergency), you may have it done and deduct the cost after giving an itemized statement with receipts. If the landlord disputes the repair in writing, you need a written certification from the city that it is a code violation first. Limit: one month's rent per 12 months (RSMo 441.234).
Can I withhold rent for repairs in Missouri?
not allowed; withholding rent can get you evicted. Only the repair-and-deduct remedy above.
How much notice does a landlord need to enter in Missouri?
no statute; check your lease.
How much notice does a landlord have to give for unpaid rent in Missouri?
No written notice period is required. The landlord must have demanded the rent, and can then file a 'rent and possession' case right away (RSMo 535.020). You can stop the case by paying all rent owed and court costs on the judgment date; if you pay the money judgment and costs before the judgment becomes final, the eviction is stayed (RSMo 535.160).
How much notice for a lease violation in Missouri?
No general statutory notice or right to cure; lease terms apply. For illegal gambling, prostitution or drug activity on the premises, the landlord must give a 10-day notice to vacate before taking possession through the legal process (RSMo 441.020, 441.040).
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Missouri?
Written notice ending on a rent due date at least one month after it is received, from either side (RSMo 441.060).
How long do I have to respond to an eviction lawsuit in Missouri?
The summons sets a court date no more than 21 business days after it is issued, and must be served at least 4 days before. Go to court on that date. After a judgment you have 10 days to ask to set it aside or ask for a new trial (trial de novo) (RSMo 535.030).
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Missouri?
Yes. A landlord who removes you or your belongings, removes doors or locks, or willfully cuts electric, gas, water or sewer service without a court order (except for health or safety reasons) is guilty of forcible entry and detainer (RSMo 441.233). You can sue under chapter 534; if you win, the court orders you put back in and awards double your damages (RSMo 534.330). Exception: property left after the lawful abandonment process (RSMo 441.065).
How much notice is needed for a rent increase in Missouri?
no statute; for month-to-month, the landlord can change terms by ending the tenancy with one month's written notice.
Is there rent control in Missouri?
No. Cities and counties may not regulate rent amounts, ban source-of-income discrimination, limit security deposits, restrict tenant screening, or require a tenant right of first refusal (RSMo 441.043, expanded August 28, 2025).
Is there a limit on late fees in Missouri?
no statute
Can my landlord retaliate if I complain in Missouri?
No statewide statute protecting tenants from retaliation.
What is the small claims limit in Missouri?
$5,000.