Missouri Residential Lease Agreement

• Max 2 months' rent (a deposit labeled as a pet deposit does not count). Within 30 days after the tenancy ends the landlord must return the full deposit or mail an itemized list of damages with the balance, and must give the tenant reasonable notice of the move-out inspection. Wrongful withholding costs twice the amount withheld (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300).

Reviewed 5 Oct 2026 · Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300

Reviewed 5 Oct 2026 · Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300

• Written notice stating the tenancy terminates on a periodic rent-paying date not less than one month after receipt of the notice (statute says 'one month', recorded as 30 days).

Quoted from the source: “the tenancy shall terminate upon a periodic rent-paying date not less than one month after the receipt of the notice”

Exceptions:

• Mobile-home lot tenancies (tenant owns the home): landlord notice not sooner than 60 days from the date rent next becomes due (§441.060.4(2)).

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · RSMo §441.060.1, .3, .4(1)

• §441.060.1 applies to any tenancy at will, by sufferance 'or for less than one year' — one month's written notice; no shorter statutory period for week-to-week tenancies was found.

Quoted from the source: “A tenancy at will or by sufferance, or for less than one year, may be terminated ... by giving one month's notice, in writing”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · RSMo §441.060.1

• A tenant who holds over after the term ends is guilty of unlawful detainer only after a written demand for delivery of possession is made and refused; no waiting period is stated (except 10 business days for certain post-foreclosure residential tenants).

Quoted from the source: “after demand made, in writing, for the delivery of such possession of the premises ... shall refuse or neglect to vacate such possession”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · RSMo §534.030

• No statewide just-cause requirement; month-to-month tenancies terminate on the §441.060 one-month notice without cause.

Quoted from the source: “All such tenancies may be terminated by either party thereto ... giving to the other party ... one month's notice, in writing”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · RSMo §441.060; §534.030

• Rent must be due and payable and payment must have been demanded by the landlord or agent and not made; no statutory waiting period after the demand before filing a rent-and-possession action.
• The §441.060 one-month notice is expressly NOT required before a rent-and-possession filing.

Quoted from the source: “payment has been demanded by the landlord or the landlord's agent ... and payment thereof has not been made, the landlord or agent may file”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · RSMo §535.020

• Tenant violated §441.020 (permitting prohibited gaming devices, a bawdyhouse/brothel or common gaming house, or illegal possession, sale or distribution of controlled substances — lease becomes void) or §441.030 (assignment/transfer without landlord's written assent, violating any condition of a written lease, or committing waste).
• Landlord may re-enter and take possession or oust the tenant by the procedure specified by law after giving ten days' notice to vacate.

Quoted from the source: “after giving ten days' notice to vacate the premises, shall have a right to reenter the premises and take possession”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · RSMo §441.040; §441.020; §441.030

• No statutory method: §441.060 requires written notice 'given to the other party' measured from 'receipt'; §534.030 requires a written demand for possession; §535.020 requires only that rent be 'demanded'.

Quoted from the source: “by a written notice given to the other party”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · RSMo §441.060.4(1); §534.030; §535.020

• No statutory form found.
• §441.060 requires notice 'in writing'; §534.030 requires a 'demand made, in writing' for possession; no statutory contents or court form located.

Quoted from the source: “after demand made, in writing, for the delivery of such possession of the premises”

Reviewed 27 Sep 2026 · RSMo §441.060; §534.030