Mississippi tenant rights

Guides for Mississippi renters

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

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)).

Law

Miss. Code Ann. §89-8-21

How to get your deposit back

1. Before you move out, clean, take dated photos and video of every room, and return all keys.
2. Give your landlord your new address in writing. In Mississippi: Ask in writing and give your new address.
3. 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.
4. If the money or an itemized list doesn't come, or the deductions are wrong, send a demand letter (below). Keep proof of mailing.
5. If that doesn't work, sue in small claims court. Limit: $3,500 in Justice Court. Small claims court in Mississippi on RobinClaim

Full Mississippi security deposit guide

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

Full Mississippi repair rights guide

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

Full Mississippi eviction guide

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

• Mississippi Access to Justice Commission: Housing issues · 601-974-0470
• Mississippi Judiciary: Civil legal assistance
• Mississippi Volunteer Lawyers Project · 601-960-9577

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).

Free tools for Mississippi renters

Pre-set for Mississippi. Free, no account needed.

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.

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.

Other states