Missouri security deposit law
Security Deposit Laws in Missouri
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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.
Missouri security deposit return timeline
Deadline to return
30 days
Statute
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.3 (deadline/itemization); § 535.300.6 (penalty)
Within thirty days after the date of termination of the tenancy the landlord must either return the full deposit or furnish a written itemized list of damages withheld for, ALONG WITH the balance (§ 535.300.3). No tenant demand is required; the landlord complies by mailing the statement and payment to the tenant's LAST KNOWN ADDRESS — so a tenant who never updated their address can lawfully "miss" the mailing; give the landlord a current address in writing. The landlord must give notice of a move-out inspection date and time, and the tenant has the right to be present (§ 535.300.5). Deposit cap: two months' rent. Interest on the deposit belongs to the LANDLORD (§ 535.300.2) — do not claim interest.
What can a landlord legally deduct in Missouri?
Allowed
- ✓Amounts reasonably necessary to remedy a default in the payment of rent
- ✓Restoring the unit to its condition at commencement, ordinary wear and tear excepted (carpet cleaning only if the rental agreement provides for it, with receipts for actual cost)
- ✓Actual damages from the tenant's failure to give adequate notice to terminate, provided the landlord makes reasonable efforts to mitigate
Not allowed
- ✗Ordinary wear and tear
- ✗Anything outside the three listed categories
What if your landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully in Missouri?
If the landlord wrongfully withholds all or any portion of the deposit, the tenant SHALL recover as damages TWICE the amount wrongfully withheld (§ 535.300.6). The multiplier attaches to the amount wrongfully withheld, not the whole deposit; no bad-faith element; no attorney-fee provision in the section.
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 Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.3 (deadline/itemization); § 535.300.6 (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.
Missouri tenant rights resources
- HUD — tenant rights and resources
- Find your state's consumer protection / Attorney General office
- Key statute: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.3 (deadline/itemization); § 535.300.6 (penalty) — verified against the official text on 2026-09-07.
Every fact on this page is verified against Missouri'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 Missouri.
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30 days
Missouri law sets this deadline — your landlord must return your deposit or itemize deductions by then.
If they wrongfully withhold
up to 2× your deposit
Add your deposit amount above for the exact figure.
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.3 (deadline/itemization); § 535.300.6 (penalty) — verified against the official statute 2026-09-07
Your 30 days started the day you moved out — that clock is running right now whether or not your landlord acts, and the 2× penalty only exists if you demanded it in writing before it closed.
Secure checkout · Letter ready in 30 min · Full refund if not satisfied
Used by renters in 5 states — 22 people in the past two weeks found out exactly what they're owed this way.
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.