Landlord & tenant · Missouri
the short answer
Your landlord has 30 days to return the deposit. You have the right to be there when the landlord inspects the place, which is worth using — it is much harder to charge you for damage you watched them look at. Money kept wrongly is worth twice that amount.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
governing statute
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
deadline
30 days
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Across the country. 23 of the 47 states written up answer this the same way as Missouri. The shortest is 14 days, as in Alaska; the longest is 60 days, as in Alabama. Compare every state →
penalty
Twice the amount wrongfully withheld (§ 535.300(6)).
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
which court
Small claims court
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
small claims limit
$5,000
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
also
You have the right to be present when the landlord inspects the unit. A Missouri court has held the double-damages remedy does not reach commercial tenancies.
source ↗Not yet checked against the statute.
your situation
Everything above is the law as it reaches everyone in Missouri. What it means for you turns on facts only you have. Tell us what happened and we'll ask the same questions a lawyer would — about 90 seconds, free, and anonymous.
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