Mississippi landlord-tenant law FAQ
17 answers to common Mississippi landlord questions. Every answer is a verified fact with its official source and last-checked date.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Mississippi?
Mississippi's Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (ch. 89-8) sets no maximum security deposit (full chapter read).
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. ch. 89-8 (§ 89-8-21) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full security deposit limit page
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Mississippi?
The landlord may keep only amounts reasonably needed for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, cleaning or other default costs, itemized in writing. The rest must be returned within 45 days after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered and the tenant makes a demand. Bad-faith retention can add up to $200 in damages on top of actual damages.
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3)–(4) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full deposit return deadline page
How much notice does a landlord have to give before entering a rental in Mississippi?
Ch. 89-8 sets no advance-notice requirement for landlord entry (full chapter read).
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. ch. 89-8 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full notice to enter page
How much notice does a landlord need to give to raise the rent in Mississippi?
Ch. 89-8 sets no notice period for rent increases (full chapter read). § 89-8-17 lets a landlord demand a rent increase after a lease expires, so long as the dominant purpose is not retaliation for the tenant's actions protected by the chapter.
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. ch. 89-8; § 89-8-17 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full rent increase notice page
Can a landlord charge a late fee in Mississippi, and how much?
Ch. 89-8 sets no cap on late fees. Late fees required by the rental agreement count as 'rent' (§ 89-8-7) (full chapter read).
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-7 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full late fees page
What notice does a landlord have to give before evicting for unpaid rent in Mississippi?
3 days' written notice to pay or the lease ends. The notice can go by email or text if the tenant agreed to that in writing.
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-13(5)(a) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full eviction notice (nonpayment) page
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month tenancy in Mississippi?
Either party may end a month-to-month tenancy with written notice at least 30 days before the termination date. Week-to-week tenancies need 7 days' notice. No notice is needed after a substantial violation that materially affects health or safety.
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-19(2)–(4) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full ending a month-to-month tenancy page
Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Mississippi?
Ch. 89-8 requires no interest on security deposits (full chapter read).
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full interest on deposits page
Is a move-in or move-out inspection checklist required in Mississippi?
Ch. 89-8 sets no move-in inspection or checklist requirement (full chapter read).
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. ch. 89-8 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full move-in/move-out checklist page
Is landlord retaliation illegal in Mississippi?
After a lease expires, the landlord may raise rent or start a holdover eviction (with 3 days' notice), but not with the dominant purpose of retaliating against the tenant for actions authorized by the Act.
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-17(2) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full retaliation protections page
Can a landlord change the locks or shut off utilities in Mississippi?
Ch. 89-8 contains no express ban on landlord lockouts or utility shutoffs (full chapter read). It provides a court eviction process (§§ 89-8-33 to -45).
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. ch. 89-8 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full lockouts and utility shutoffs page
What can a tenant do if the landlord won't make repairs in Mississippi?
If the landlord does not fix a specific, material defect within 30 days of written notice, the tenant may repair it and be reimbursed within 45 days, or offset the cost against future rent. Conditions: the cost does not exceed one month's rent, the tenant is current on rent, and the remedy has not been used in the past 6 months. The tenant may also end the lease on 14 days' notice for an uncured material breach.
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. §§ 89-8-15, 89-8-13(2)–(3) · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full repairs and habitability remedies page
What disclosures must a landlord give tenants in Mississippi?
Ch. 89-8 imposes no specific landlord disclosure requirements (full chapter read).
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. ch. 89-8 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full required lease disclosures page
What can a landlord do with property a tenant leaves behind in Mississippi?
After a judgment of possession, property left when the tenant moves out by the court-ordered date may be disposed of without further notice. After a warrant of removal is executed, the landlord must allow reasonable access for 72 hours. After that, the landlord may move remaining property to the curb, a garbage area, or another agreed location.
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-39 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full abandoned property page
Can a tenant break a lease early for domestic violence or military service in Mississippi?
A cosigner may end a residential lease after the death of the lessee, or of all lessees, and is presumed to have done so unless they notify the landlord within 30 days. Rent through the month of death is still owed. This applies to leases signed or renewed on or after July 1, 2011.
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-29 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full early termination (dv/military) page
Is there a grace period before a late fee can be charged in Mississippi?
Ch. 89-8 sets no grace period before a late fee may be charged (full chapter read).
Verified Source: Miss. Code Ann. ch. 89-8 · last checked 2026-10-15 · Full late fee grace period page
What is the military lease termination (federal scra, all states) rule in Mississippi?
Federal law that applies in every state: under the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act, a tenant may end a residential lease after entering military service, or after getting permanent-change-of-station orders or deployment orders of at least 90 days, by delivering written notice and a copy of the orders to the landlord. For a lease with monthly rent, termination takes effect 30 days after the next rent due date following delivery of the notice. Any state-specific rule on this page also applies. Code text: "The lessee on a lease described in subsection (b) may, at the lessee's option, terminate the lease at any time after."
Verified Source: 50 U.S.C. § 3955 (federal Servicemembers Civil Relief Act) · last checked 2026-10-16 · Full military lease termination (federal scra, all states) page
Mississippi cities with their own rules
- Booneville landlord rules
- Cleveland landlord rules
- Clinton landlord rules
- Horn Lake landlord rules
- Indianola landlord rules
- Jackson landlord rules
- Meridian landlord rules
- New Albany landlord rules
- Petal landlord rules
- Tupelo landlord rules
All Mississippi landlord-tenant law
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