Mississippi security deposit law
Security Deposit Laws in Mississippi
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When did you move out?
This is the one that matters. Your clock starts the day you handed back the keys — not the day your landlord replies.
Statute-verified in 50 U.S. jurisdictions and counting — everywhere else, a specialist prepares your case by hand until verification clears.
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. Tell us your move-out date, deposit amount, and landlord's address — two minutes.
- 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. We mail it to your landlord via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt.
- 4. You track delivery on your case page, with day-7 and day-14 follow-up.
$39 per case — founding price, one flat fee, no subscription.
Mississippi tenant rights resources
- HUD — tenant rights and resources
- Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
- Key statute: Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3) (deadline/itemization); § 89-8-21(4) (penalty) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-07.
Every fact on this page is verified against Mississippi's official statutory text as of 2026-09-07. TenantNex is not a law firm and this is not legal advice. For complex disputes, consult a licensed attorney in Mississippi.
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45 days
Mississippi law sets this deadline — your landlord must return your deposit or itemize deductions by then.
If they wrongfully withhold
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.
Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21(3) (deadline/itemization); § 89-8-21(4) (penalty) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-07
Your 45 days started the day you moved out — that clock is running right now whether or not your landlord acts.
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We don't stop at mailing it. If your landlord doesn't respond, we follow up at day 7 and day 14 — and help you build the evidence and paperwork for small claims if it comes to that. Real result: we helped Kathleen A. (Ohio) recover her full $3,000 deposit this way.
Pay once. We handle the rest.
One case, one price — the letter, the certified mailing, the tracking, and the follow-up. No subscription, no recurring anything.
| Option | Price | Effort | Follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do it yourself | — | All of it | You chase |
| TenantNex | $39 | Done for you | We chase |
| Small-claims services | $149–448 | — | — |
| Hire an attorney | $300–2,000+ | — | — |
An attorney starts at $300. Filing services charge $149 for the letter alone. We prepare the whole claim for $39.
Recover
We run your claim until you are paid — or you are ready to file.
- Step 1 — certified demand letter citing your state statute, deadline and penalty
- Mailed USPS Certified with return receipt, tracked to your landlord’s door
- Step 2 — day-14 notice of intent to file, the one most landlords act on
- Step 3 — your small-claims packet: the right form for your county, filled in
- Where to file, what it costs, and how to serve your landlord
- Evidence checklist, with your certified receipt as Exhibit A
- Counter-response letter if your landlord disputes or underpays
- Attorney referral if it is still unresolved after 21 days
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What TenantNex is — and isn't
TenantNex is 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.