A Missouri lease agreement is a rental document that outlines the circumstances of how a landlord rents their property to a tenant. It identifies the landlord’s and tenant’s contact information, the premises’ address, specific disclosures, and other relevant information.
Rental Lease Laws Overview
- Rent Control: No
- Limit on Late Fees: No
- Late Fees in Rental Agreement: Yes
- Grace Period: No
- License Required for Landlord: No
Landlords use rental applications to evaluate whether tenants are suitable before finalizing a lease agreement.
By Type (6)
Standard Lease Agreement
Outlines the responsibilities and obligations of both the landlord and tenant for renting a residential property.
Rent-to-Own Lease Agreement
Permits a tenant to buy a landlord's property if they'd like after their tenancy is over.
Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
This agreement renews on a monthly basis, without a predetermined end date.
Sublease Agreement
Establishes a secondary leasing arrangement while the primary tenant's responsibility to the original landlord remains.
Room Rental Agreement
Outlines living arrangements and financial responsibilities among cohabiting individuals.
Required Lease Disclosures
Missouri requires landlords to include the following disclosures in a rental agreement:
- Lead Paint. If a landlord is renting a house that was built before 1-978, they must warn potential tenants of exposure to lead-based paint. [1]
- Notice of Illegal Substance Contamination. If a landlord knows that their building was used to produce methamphetamine in the past, they must tell a potential tenant, according to the Missouri Revisor of Statutes. [2]
- Identification. Before a tenancy begins, a landlord must provide the owner’s and property manager’s name and address to the tenant. [3]
Security Deposit
- Maximum Amount: A landlord may not request more than two months’ rent as a security deposit from the tenant. A landlord must also return the security deposit within thirty (30) days from the end of the lease. [4]
- Receipts: Not specified.
- Interest Payments: Not required.
- Bank Account: Not required.
- Returning Requirements: A landlord must return a tenant’s security deposit within 30 days. [4] If a tenant doesn’t receive their security deposit back from their landlord, they can take them to small claims court. They can sue the landlord for up to $5,000, If the amount is greater, the tenant would have to look into filing a civil case.
- Withholding Rules: The landlord can withhold amounts for unpaid rent and damages beyond ordinary wear and tear. Within 30 days, the landlord must provide an itemized list of damages and the corresponding costs. [4]
Rent Payments
- Laws: Rent is due at the dwelling unit at the beginning of the month unless the lease specifies otherwise.
- Rent Control: Missouri state law does not establish rent control, so there is no upper limit on the rent amount a landlord can charge. The law prohibits landlords from raising rent as retaliation for a tenant exercising their legal rights. [5]
- Late Fees and Grace Period: The state doesn’t restrict how much landlords can charge for late fees. The law requires a notice for a tenant to vacate the premises due to non-payment of rent. [6]
- Withholding Rent: Tenants who have resided in a rental property for six consecutive months, paid all rent, and have not violated lease terms may deduct repair costs from their rent if a habitability issue exists that violates local codes. The repair cost must be less than $300 or half of the rent, whichever is greater, and cannot exceed one month’s rent. The tenant must notify the landlord and allow 14 days for the repair. If the landlord disputes the repair, the tenant must obtain a certification from local authorities before proceeding. [7]
Landlord Right of Entry
Missouri doesn’t have a statute dealing with a landlord’s right of entry, so a landlord is not required to give notice to the tenant before entering the premises. Most landlords will provide a courtesy notice of at least 24 hours, but they may enter the property in an emergency, such as a serious water leak.
Property Repairs
- Landlord Responsibilities: Landlords are required to keep rental properties in a safe and habitable condition, adhering to local building and housing codes. [4]
- Tenant Repairs: Missouri law requires tenants to keep plumbing fixtures clean, use systems and appliances reasonably, and avoid causing damage.
- Abandonment: No specific statute requiring tenants to provide notice for absences exceeding a certain date. However, lease agreements may include such provisions. If a tenant fails to maintain utilities, leading to a lease violation, the landlord can issue a 10-day notice to vacate for non-compliance.
Terminating a Lease
- Month-to-Month Tenancy: A landlord can terminate a month-to-month tenancy by providing the tenant with a 30-day written notice. This notice must be given at least 30 days before the end of the rental period. [8]
- Unclaimed Property: If the tenant hasn’t paid rent for thirty days and the landlord believes they’ve abandoned the property, they may consider the property abandoned and remove the tenant’s belongings. To prevent this, the tenant must notify the landlord within ten days of receiving their notice, both by regular and optionally by certified mail. [9]
Sample
Download our Missouri lease agreement template as a PDF or Word file to start defining your landlord-tenant relationship:
