Last reviewed September 2026
Written by LawLease Editorial
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Mississippi Security Deposit Return Letter
When a tenancy ends, a Mississippi landlord has a set time to return the deposit or send an itemized list of deductions. Here’s what Mississippi’s statute says.
Mississippi rules at a glance
| Return deadline | 45 days. The balance, with a written notice itemizing each amount claimed, is due no later than 45 days after the tenancy ends, the tenant delivers possession and the tenant demands the deposit.Miss. Code §89-8-21(3) |
|---|---|
| Penalty | Keeping a deposit in violation of the statute and without good faith can cost the landlord up to $200 in addition to the tenant’s actual damages.Miss. Code §89-8-21(4) |
Security deposits in Mississippi
Mississippi puts no limit on how much a landlord can collect as a security deposit. The money is held for the tenant, and the tenant’s claim to it comes ahead of the landlord’s own creditors (§89-8-21(2)).
- Allowed deductions — Only amounts reasonably necessary to cover unpaid rent, damage the tenant caused beyond ordinary wear and tear, cleaning at move-out, and other reasonable expenses caused by the tenant’s default — if the deposit was taken for those purposes (§89-8-21(3)).
- Itemized notice — To keep any part of the deposit, the landlord must deliver a written notice itemizing each amount claimed (§89-8-21(3)).
- Return deadline — The balance is due no later than 45 days after all three of these have happened: the tenancy ends, the tenant delivers possession, and the tenant demands the deposit. A tenant who never asks for the deposit doesn’t start the clock (§89-8-21(3)).
- Bad-faith penalty — Keeping a deposit in violation of the statute and without good faith can cost the landlord up to $200 in addition to the tenant’s actual damages (§89-8-21(4)).
Mississippi Security Deposit Return Letter FAQs
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Mississippi?
There’s no statutory maximum — the deposit is whatever the lease sets. The statute controls what can be deducted and how quickly the balance must be returned (§89-8-21).
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Mississippi?
No later than 45 days after the tenancy ends, possession is delivered and the tenant demands the deposit, together with a written itemization of anything kept. Bad-faith retention can cost up to $200 plus actual damages (§89-8-21).
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Security Deposit Return Letter in other states
- Alabama Security Deposit Return Letter
- Alaska Security Deposit Return Letter
- Arizona Security Deposit Return Letter
- Arkansas Security Deposit Return Letter
- California Security Deposit Return Letter
- Colorado Security Deposit Return Letter
- Connecticut Security Deposit Return Letter
- Delaware Security Deposit Return Letter
- District of Columbia Security Deposit Return Letter
- Florida Security Deposit Return Letter
- Georgia Security Deposit Return Letter
- Hawaii Security Deposit Return Letter
- Idaho Security Deposit Return Letter
- Illinois Security Deposit Return Letter
- Indiana Security Deposit Return Letter
- Iowa Security Deposit Return Letter
- Kansas Security Deposit Return Letter
- Kentucky Security Deposit Return Letter
- Louisiana Security Deposit Return Letter
- Maine Security Deposit Return Letter
- Maryland Security Deposit Return Letter
- Massachusetts Security Deposit Return Letter
- Michigan Security Deposit Return Letter
- Minnesota Security Deposit Return Letter
- Missouri Security Deposit Return Letter
- Montana Security Deposit Return Letter
- Nebraska Security Deposit Return Letter
- Nevada Security Deposit Return Letter
- New Hampshire Security Deposit Return Letter
- New Jersey Security Deposit Return Letter
- New Mexico Security Deposit Return Letter
- New York Security Deposit Return Letter
- North Carolina Security Deposit Return Letter
- North Dakota Security Deposit Return Letter
- Ohio Security Deposit Return Letter
- Oklahoma Security Deposit Return Letter
- Oregon Security Deposit Return Letter
- Pennsylvania Security Deposit Return Letter
- Rhode Island Security Deposit Return Letter
- South Carolina Security Deposit Return Letter
- South Dakota Security Deposit Return Letter
- Tennessee Security Deposit Return Letter
- Texas Security Deposit Return Letter
- Utah Security Deposit Return Letter
- Vermont Security Deposit Return Letter
- Virginia Security Deposit Return Letter
- Washington Security Deposit Return Letter
- West Virginia Security Deposit Return Letter
- Wisconsin Security Deposit Return Letter
- Wyoming Security Deposit Return Letter
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