A Mississippi Rental Application is a document that landlords use to screen renters before entering into a lease agreement. Specifically, you can use the data in a completed rental application to perform criminal background checks, reference checks, credit checks, and more. These investigations can show you whether a prospective tenant is reliable and safe.
Laws
- Application Fee – Non-refundable
- Application Fee Limits – No limits (no statute)
- Security Deposit – No limits (no statute)
State Laws
Below you can find essential details about rental regulations in Mississippi, covering application fees, security deposits, pet deposits, eviction record searches, and other useful laws. Ensure you’re aware of the state statutes prior to signing a lease agreement.
Application Fees
There are no prescribed limits for rental application fees in Mississippi. However, landlords should charge a reasonable amount to cover the cost of processing the rental application, approximately the average rental application fee of around $30 to $40.
Security Deposits
In Mississippi, a security deposit is any payment or deposit of money that renters pay to landlords to secure the performance of a rental agreement. According to the Landlord-Tenant Act:
- Mississippi does not limit how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit as long as the lease contract states the amount. Most landlords change one or two months’ rent as a security deposit.
- The landlord may only retain the security deposit for specific remedies at the end of a lease.
- Landlords often use the security deposit to cover unpaid rent, costs of damage (other than ordinary wear and tear) caused by the renter’s failure to meet tenant obligations, and expenses incurred due to default.
Pet Deposits
Mississippi does not have any state statutes governing pet deposits. Accordingly, landlords may ask for pet deposits to cover any potential property damage caused by a pet.
However, federal law entitles people who use service and emotional support animals to full and equal access to housing. As such, landlords can not require tenants to pay extra for service and emotional support animals.
How To Conduct an Eviction Record Search
An eviction record search is one of the best ways to determine whether a potential renter is reliable. You can do this by:
- Going to the Mississippi Court Records page online.
- Typing in the prospective renter’s first and last name.
- Looking at the results to see if the prospective tenant has a history of eviction or behavior that could lead to eviction.
Other Landlord Resources
Mississippi landlords should be aware of additional resources to help them ensure a thorough application process and a reliable tenant selection:
Sample
Click below to access a sample rental application form that you can use to screen potential tenants in Mississippi.
