Missouri Month-to-Month Rental Agreement
Most residential tenants sign lease agreements when renting property, and the agreements they ink can vary. Many sign a fixed-term lease agreement, but others may opt for a more flexible arrangement, such as a month-to-month contract. A Missouri month-to-month lease agreement allows landlords and tenants to cancel the agreement at any time with proper notice.
Because the contract has no fixed end date, it is legally considered a tenancy-at-will. Landlords or tenants can terminate the lease as long as they provide proper notice. If neither party seeks to terminate, these agreements renew with every successful rent payment.
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Missouri Month-to-Month Lease Laws
In this guide, we’ll take a look at Missouri month-to-month lease agreements, how they differ from fixed-term leases, and cover some top-level elements of Missouri landlord-tenant law, including:
- Required landlord disclosures
- How to terminate a month-to-month lease
- Rent increases in month-to-month rentals
- Missouri eviction procedures
- Security deposit laws
- Pet deposits and rent limitations
- Late fees on rent payments
Required Landlord Disclosures (3)
At the time of lease signing, landlords in Missouri must provide the tenant with disclosures explaining critical property and landlord information.
These relevant disclosures for Missouri are:
- Lead paint: Federal law requires landlords to inform tenants about the presence or knowledge of lead-based paint or lead-based paint hazards on all properties built before 1978.
- Methamphetamine contamination: Missouri landlords must notify tenants if methamphetamine has been produced or stored on the property. (MRS § 441.236).
- Landlord’s name and address: Landlords must clearly note the name and address of the person responsible for managing the rental property. (MRS § 535.185).
Note: TurboTenant provides these disclosures with every lease agreement.
Required Notice to Terminate Month-to-Month Agreement
Since month-to-month leases have no natural end date, each state has different rules around terminating them. Below, we list the amount of notice landlords and tenants must provide each other to terminate.
Required notice for landlord: 30 days’ notice.
Required notice for tenant: 30 days’ notice.
Rent Increase Laws
Month-to-month leases offer landlords more flexibility than fixed-term leases, especially regarding rent increases. Missouri does not have any rent control laws, so Missouri landlords can raise the rent as much as they see fit.
Missouri law requires landlords to give tenants at least 30 days’ notice before increasing the rent. However, landlords can raise the rent as often as they like as long as they provide proper notice.
Rent Payment Laws
Grace period: There are no laws on the books in Missouri that require a grace period for late rent payments.
Late rent fees: Missouri landlords must charge “reasonable” late fees, which are either $20 or 20% of the monthly rent, whichever is greater (MRS § 415.417(4)).
Tenant’s right to withhold rent: Any condition that challenges the habitability or security of a property must be fixed within 14 days of receiving notice from the tenant. If the landlord doesn’t repair the problem within 14 days, the tenant may make the repair on their own as long as it costs less than $300 or half of the monthly rent, whichever is greater (MRS § 441.234).
Pet rent laws: Missouri does not have laws dictating the amount landlords can charge for pet rent.
Security Deposit Rules
Maximum security deposit: Landlords in Missouri are allowed to collect up to 2 months’ rent for the security deposit (MRS § 441.043).
Security deposit receipt: Missouri landlords do not need to provide a receipt when they collect security deposits, but it’s good practice to do so.
Interest: While landlords in Missouri are not required to keep security deposits in interest-bearing accounts, they are allowed to keep the interest if they do so (MRS § 535.300(2)).
Deduction Tracking: Landlords are allowed to withhold funds if there is unpaid rent or property damage beyond normal wear and tear. If they do, the landlord must provide an itemized list of the deductions (MRS § 535.300(3-4)).
Returning a tenant’s security deposit: All remaining funds from security deposits should be returned within 30 days of the tenant moving out (MRS § 535.300(3)).
Pet deposit rules: Pet deposits count towards the security deposit limit; landlords can collect whatever amount they deem fit for a pet deposit, as long as it doesn’t exceed two months’ rent when combined with the security deposit.
Property Access Regulations
Advance notice: Missouri does not set a mandatory notice period for landlord entry, but 24-48 hours is common practice.
Immediate access: Landlords in Missouri are allowed to enter a unit when necessary.
Landlord harassment: Landlords cannot harass tenants by repeatedly entering a unit or by incessant communication. Tenants may be able to seek monetary damages or break the lease early when they face landlord harassment.
Rental Agreement Violations
Missed rent payment: If a tenant misses a rent payment, Missouri landlords can immediately file for eviction if they choose (MRS § 535.010).
Lease violation: Landlords in Missouri must deliver a 10-day Notice to Cure or Quit when facing a lease violation (MRS § 441.040).
Self-help evictions: Evicting a tenant on your own could be considered a self-help eviction and is illegal under Missouri law. (MRS § 441.233).
Lease Abandonment: If a tenant ends a lease early without proper cause, they could be liable for the remaining rent during the lease term. Missouri landlords must re-rent the unit as soon as possible, releasing the previous tenant from any outstanding rent obligation (MRS § 535.300(3)). Lease abandonment isn’t as much of a concern for month-to-month leases, but it’s something to beware of.
Missouri Month-to-Month Lease Agreement FAQs
What is a Missouri month-to-month lease agreement?
A Missouri month-to-month lease agreement is a flexible rental agreement with no fixed term. Either party can terminate it at any time by giving proper notice. TurboTenant provides landlords with legally-reviewed lease agreement templates for easy lease building and generation.
What’s the difference between a fixed-term lease and a month-to-month agreement?
A fixed-term lease has a set end date and is considered legally valid until that date. On the other hand, a Missouri month-to-month lease agreement is a flexible arrangement that can be terminated at any time. It grants both landlords and tenants more control over their living situation.
How to end a Missouri month-to-month lease agreement?
Landlords and tenants can terminate a Missouri month-to-month lease agreement by providing 30 days’ written notice of their intent to terminate.
