{"id":374380,"date":"2016-03-31T21:35:46","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:35:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/mississippi-law\/mississippi-leases-and-rental-agreements-laws.html"},"modified":"2016-06-20T19:50:57","modified_gmt":"2016-06-21T00:50:57","slug":"mississippi-leases-and-rental-agreements-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/mississippi-law\/mississippi-leases-and-rental-agreements-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"Mississippi Leases and Rental Agreements Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Mississippi Leases and Rental Agreements Laws<\/h1>\n
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Created by FindLaw’s team<\/a> of legal writers and editors<\/i><\/p>\n\n | Last updated\n

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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

Chances are, you\u2019ve been a renter at some point in your life, and maybe someday you\u2019ll also be a landlord. Either way, understanding rental agreements<\/a> is an important part of everyday life. You should know your rights as a tenant<\/a> or as a landlord<\/a>. You should also be aware of your responsibilities and strive to meet them, or face the legal consequences.<\/p>\n

Repairs<\/h2>\n

Sometimes the toughest part of being a tenant is getting your landlord to make repairs<\/a>. If this happens to you, resist the urge to not pay your rent because that can get you evicted. Instead, take these simple steps to get repairs done legally or do them yourself.<\/p>\n

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  1. Give your landlord 30 days notice<\/a>, in writing, about the repairs that need to be made. Date the letter and keep a copy for yourself, you may need it in court.<\/li>\n
  2. If the repairs aren\u2019t made, you can make the repairs yourself and deduct the cost from your rent, which means you can\u2019t do this if the repairs are more than your monthly rent.<\/li>\n
  3. Alternatively, you can cancel the lease without penalty because the landlord breached his or her duties to you, or you can sue the landlord in justice court.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    For more information on residential lease and rental agreement laws<\/a> in Mississippi, see the following chart.<\/p>\n\n
    Code Sections<\/b><\/td>\nMississippi Code Title 89, Chapter 8: Residential Landlord and Tenant Act<\/a> and Section 43-33-723: Prohibition Against Discrimination<\/td>\n<\/tr>
    Terms of Leases<\/b><\/td>\nA tenant who overstays the lease is called a \u201choldover<\/a>\u201d tenant. The tenancy converts into a month-to-month tenancy. If you\u2019re a lodger who pays your rent weekly, then the tenancy coverts to week-to-week.
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    \nYour lease can provide for a grace period, often a few days after the rent is due before a late fee is applied. However, this is as set out in the rental contract, not something that must be provided by law.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
    Security Deposits<\/b><\/td>\nMississippi law doesn\u2019t limit the amount of a security deposit<\/a> nor does it require interest be paid on deposits. However, landlords must repay any rental-related security deposits within 45 days<\/a> of terminating the tenancy.
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    \nAs a tenant, you must request the return of the deposit and provide a forwarding address for the money to be sent to you or make other arrangements. A property owner can deduct the reasonable costs of repairs from the deposit, but must provide a written, itemized list of the items deducted.<\/td>\n<\/tr>
    Discrimination<\/b><\/td>\nLike all states, Mississippi must follow federal fair housing laws (and all state laws) that prohibit discrimination on the basis of a number of traits, including:
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    Uniform Residential Landlord & Tenant Act<\/b><\/td>\nIn 1991, Mississippi enacted the Residential Landlord & Tenant Act<\/a>, which was created collaboratively by the Uniform Law Commission.<\/td>\n<\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n

    If you\u2019re having problems with your landlord or a tenant, you can get help from an experienced Mississippi landlord-tenant lawyer<\/a>. If you\u2019re low-income, you can try contacting your local legal aid office for help.<\/p>\n

    Note:<\/i><\/b> State laws are changing constantly, please contact an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify these landlord-tenant laws.<\/i><\/p>\n

    Research the Law<\/h2>\n