Tenant Rights in Missouri

Security Deposits

• Maximum amount2 months' rent.
• Return deadline30 days after the tenancy ends and the tenant provides a forwarding address.

Landlord may deduct for unpaid rent and damages beyond normal wear and tear. Must provide an itemized list of deductions within 30 days.

Eviction Process

• Notice requirementsNo statutory pre-suit notice required for nonpayment in many jurisdictions; landlord may file for rent and possession immediately. For month-to-month tenancies, 30 days' notice is customary. Kansas City and St. Louis may have local rules.
• Judicial eviction requiredYes
• Estimated timeline2 to 4 weeks for uncontested cases.

Rent Control

Missouri law (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.043) preempts local governments from enacting rent control.

Repair and Habitability

• Repair and deductAllowed
• Rent withholdingNot allowed
• Retaliation protectionYes

Lease Termination

• Month-to-month notice30 days' notice by either party (one full rental period).

Tenant may be liable for remaining rent. Landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent. Military members may terminate under the SCRA.

Key Statutes

• Missouri Landlord-Tenant Law: Mo. Rev. Stat. §§ 441.005–441.880
• Security Deposits: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300
• Tenant's Right to Repair and Deduct: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.234
• Retaliation: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.500 et seq.
• Rent Control Preemption: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.043

When to Get Legal Help

• You're facing eviction, especially with short notice
• Your landlord is withholding a large security deposit
• You believe you're being discriminated against
• Your unit has serious habitability issues the landlord refuses to fix

Find free legal aid in Missouri

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the security deposit limit in Missouri?

  Missouri limits security deposits to 2 months' rent. The landlord must return the deposit within 30 days after the tenancy ends, along with an itemized list of deductions.

• Does a Missouri landlord have to give notice before evicting for nonpayment?

  Missouri does not require a specific pre-suit notice for nonpayment of rent in many jurisdictions. The landlord may file for rent and possession directly. Local rules in Kansas City and St. Louis may vary.

• Can I use repair and deduct in Missouri?

  Yes. Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.234, a tenant may repair and deduct if the landlord fails to make necessary repairs after proper notice, though the deduction is limited to $300 or half a month's rent (whichever is greater) per repair.

• Does Missouri have rent control?

  No. Missouri law expressly preempts local governments from adopting rent control ordinances under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.043.

Sources

• Missouri Revised Statutes - Landlord-Tenant (Chapter 441)