Mississippi Tenant Rights Laws

Although renters don't have to worry about major responsibilities like property taxes and large renovation projects, there are still plenty of frustrating issues that can come up throughout the landlord-tenant relationship. To deal with many of these issues, Mississippi has a number of laws regarding renters’ rights and responsibilities, in addition to federal and local laws. Read on to learn more about Mississippi's tenant rights laws.

Tenant Rights: Discrimination to Termination

In Mississippi, landlords are not allowed to discriminate based on protected characteristics such as race, familial status, or disability. Acts of discrimination include refusing to rent to someone, offering discriminatory terms or conditions, and misrepresenting the availability of a unit based on a protected trait.

During your tenancy, your landlord is also required to maintain the premises in a habitable condition. This means they must, among other things, comply with building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety, and maintain the unit in substantially the same condition it was in at the start of the lease. However, you and your landlord can agree in writing that you will take on specified responsibilities instead.

While there is no state maximum regarding the security deposit your landlord can charge you, the state does place other restrictions on how they are handled. For example, your landlord only has 45 days to return the deposit to you, along with an itemized list of deductions taken out for things like unpaid rent and cleaning costs.

Even though Mississippi provides protections and guidelines for the rental process, tenants are sometimes hesitant to assert their rights. Therefore, it's also important to note that your landlord may not retaliate against you by raising the rent or evicting you simply because you requested repairs or complained about certain code violations.

Mississippi Tenant Rights Laws at a Glance

The chart below provides a summary of Mississippi state laws governing the landlord-tenant relationship, including links to important code sections.

Note: State regulations are always subject to change through the passage of new legislation, rulings in the higher courts (including federal decisions), ballot initiatives, and other means. While we strive to provide the most current information available, please consult an attorney or conduct your own legal research to verify the state law(s) you are researching.

Mississippi Tenant Rights Laws: Related Resources

• Mississippi Lease and Rental Agreement Laws
• Mississippi Landlord-Tenant Law Guide
• Tenant Lease Agreement FAQs
• Tenants' Rights Basics
• U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development in Mississippi
• Mississippi Fair Housing

Receive a Free Review of Your Landlord-Tenant Problem

Every tenant hopes their rental experience is smooth and stress-free. Unfortunately, the odds of facing some kind of landlord-tenant issue are high, and it can be difficult to know which laws and code sections apply to your situation. Whether you're dealing with a minor repair issue or staring at an eviction notice, receive a free case review to get help asserting your rights under Mississippi's tenant rights laws.