Mississippi security deposit law

Security Deposit Laws in Mississippi: What Your Landlord Can and Cannot Keep

Your landlord has 45 days under Mississippi law to return your security deposit, or you may be owed more than what they withheld. If they keep more than they're legally allowed, you can dispute it.

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Mississippi security deposit return timeline

Deadline to return

45 days

Statute

Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3) (deadline/itemization); § 89-8-21(4) (penalty)

Any remaining portion of the deposit must be returned no later than 45 days after the termination of the tenancy, the delivery of possession, AND DEMAND BY THE TENANT — all three conditions are conjunctive, so the clock requires a demand: a demand letter should itself make the demand and state the date possession was delivered. Any claim against the deposit must be by written notice delivered to the tenant, itemizing the amounts claimed, and deductions are valid only if the deposit was made to secure those specific purposes. No deposit cap and no interest requirement exist in the section.

What can a landlord legally deduct in Mississippi?

Allowed

  • ✓Amounts reasonably necessary to remedy the tenant's defaults in the payment of rent
  • ✓Repairing damages to the premises caused by the tenant, exclusive of ordinary wear and tear
  • ✓Cleaning the premises upon termination of the tenancy
  • ✓Other reasonable and necessary expenses incurred as the result of the tenant's default

Not allowed

  • ✗Ordinary wear and tear
  • ✗Deductions for purposes the deposit was not made to secure

What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Mississippi?

Retention in violation of the section and with ABSENCE OF GOOD FAITH may subject the landlord to damages NOT TO EXCEED $200 in addition to any actual damages (§ 89-8-21(4)). Bad faith is required, the penalty is discretionary, and it is capped — widely republished claims of larger Mississippi multipliers are false. The tenant's claim to the deposit is prior to the claims of the landlord's creditors.

How TenantNex helps

  1. 1. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
  2. 2. We generate a demand letter citing Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3) (deadline/itemization); § 89-8-21(4) (penalty) and your exact deadline.
  3. 3. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
  4. 4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.

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Mississippi tenant rights resources

Every fact on this page is verified against Mississippi's official statutory text as of 2026-09-07. TenantNex prepares legal correspondence as a document preparation service, not as your attorney. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in Mississippi.

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  • Day-7 and day-14 follow-up with your next steps
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What TenantNex is — and isn't

TenantNex is a document preparation and delivery service, not a law firm. We prepare and send correspondence using publicly available state statutes. We do not provide legal advice, legal representation, or guarantee any outcome. For complex legal matters, consult a licensed attorney in your state.