Renters' Rights · Security Deposit
Security Deposit Laws in Mississippi
The most a landlord can charge, how long they have to return it, and what it costs them to keep your money without cause in Mississippi.
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What your landlord can hold, and when it's due back
Enter your rent for the Mississippi maximum, plus the return-deadline clock.
Estimate only, based on Mississippi's statutory cap. Your lease may set a lower deposit, and local ordinances can be stricter. Not legal advice.
The full rules, with the statute
Every requirement and where it comes from in the code.
Exceptions: Mississippi has no statutory cap on the amount of a residential security deposit. The amount is whatever the landlord and tenant agree to in the rental agreement.
Penalties & recent changes
What happens if the landlord keeps your deposit wrongfully.
What Mississippi renters get wrong
Mississippi gives a landlord 45 days to return your security deposit after your tenancy ends, you hand back possession, and you demand it, and the state sets no cap on how large that deposit can be (Miss. Code 89-8-21). If the landlord keeps any part of it, the written notice claiming the money has to itemize each amount. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, end-of-tenancy cleaning, and other reasonable expenses caused by your default. The penalty for bad-faith retention is modest by national standards: the wrongfully withheld amount plus damages capped at $200, in addition to any actual damages you can prove. Mississippi does not require the landlord to pay interest on your deposit or to hold it in a separate account. Because the statutory penalty is small, keeping written records and a clear demand letter matters if you ever need to press a claim.
Common questions
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Mississippi?
There is no legal limit. Mississippi law does not cap security deposits, so the amount is whatever you and the landlord agree to in the lease.
How long does a landlord have to return my deposit in Mississippi?
Up to 45 days. Under Miss. Code 89-8-21, the landlord must return any remaining deposit no later than 45 days after your tenancy ends, you give back possession, and you demand it back. If the landlord keeps any part, the written notice must itemize the amounts claimed.
What can I do if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Mississippi?
If the landlord retained your deposit in violation of the statute and without good faith, you can recover the wrongfully withheld amount plus damages of up to $200, on top of any actual damages you can prove. The statute does not by itself award attorney fees. Send a clear written demand first and keep copies of everything.
Does my Mississippi landlord have to pay interest or use a separate account?
No. Mississippi law does not require a landlord to pay interest on your security deposit, and it does not require the deposit to be held in a separate or escrow account.
Not legal advicePlainStatute provides plain-language summaries of public law for general information only. This is not legal advice. Statutes change; always confirm current requirements with the official source linked above before acting.