Landlord Won't Make Repairs in Mississippi: What Can I Do?
This page covers what a Mississippi landlord must keep in working order and how to ask for repairs. It also covers fixing a problem yourself and ending the lease when the landlord does not fix it.
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A Mississippi landlord must at all times follow building and housing codes that materially (in an important way) affect health and safety. The landlord must keep the home, its plumbing, and its heating or cooling system in substantially the same condition as when the lease began. Reasonable wear and tear (normal use over time) is excluded. The landlord does not have to keep up what the tenant damaged by deliberate or negligent (careless) actions.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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No landlord repair duty arises under Mississippi Section 89-8-23 for a defect caused by the deliberate or negligent (careless) act of the tenant. The same is true of a defect caused by people on the property with the tenant's permission. No repair duty arises for a defect caused by the tenant's failure to meet the tenant duties in Section 89-8-25.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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A Mississippi tenant must keep the part of the home they use as clean and safe as its condition permits. The tenant must use the electrical, plumbing, heating, and cooling equipment in a reasonable manner. The tenant must tell the landlord about any condition they actually know of that may cause damage. Section 89-8-25 lists more tenant duties.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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Under Mississippi Section 89-8-15, the repair steps start with written notice to the landlord of a specific and material defect. Notice given to the landlord's agent counts as notice to the landlord. Keep a copy of the notice and take photos of the problem.
RenterLaw editorial Mississippi Legislature, 2022 Senate Bill 2461 as sent to the Governor Miss. Code § 89-8-15(1)✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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In Mississippi, a tenant may repair a defect if the landlord fails to repair it within 30 days after written notice. The defect must be specific and material (important). It must break the lease or the landlord's duty under Section 89-8-23. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.
RenterLaw editorial Mississippi Legislature, 2022 Senate Bill 2461 as sent to the Governor Miss. Code § 89-8-15(1)✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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A Mississippi tenant who repairs a defect under Section 89-8-15 is entitled to get the repair costs back within 45 days. The 45 days start when the tenant gives the landlord receipted bills (paid receipts) for the work. The tenant must meet the conditions in the law.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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A Mississippi tenant can be paid back for repairs under Section 89-8-15 only if the expenses do not exceed one month's rent. The tenant also cannot be paid back more than the usual and customary charge for such repairs. Example: if rent is $600, repairs that cost more than $600 do not qualify.
RenterLaw editorial Mississippi Legislature, 2022 Senate Bill 2461 as sent to the Governor Miss. Code § 89-8-15(1)(b)✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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To be paid back for repairs under Mississippi Section 89-8-15, you must be current in rental payments. You must have met your duties under Section 89-8-25. One example is keeping the part of the home you use as clean and as safe as its condition permits. You must not have used this repair option in the 6 months right before. Other conditions apply.
Mississippi Attorney General (Miss. Code 89-8, as amended through 2018) Miss. Code § 89-8-25(a) Mississippi Legislature, 2022 Senate Bill 2461 as sent to the Governor Miss. Code § 89-8-15(1)(b)✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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A Mississippi tenant may subtract the cost of repairs made under Section 89-8-15 from future rent. Subtracting without meeting the law's conditions is risky. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.
RenterLaw editorial Mississippi Legislature, 2022 Senate Bill 2461 as sent to the Governor Miss. Code § 89-8-15(4)✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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A Mississippi tenant may end the lease if the landlord materially (in an important way) fails to follow the lease. The same goes for the duties in Section 89-8-23. Those duties include following building and housing codes that materially affect health and safety. To end the lease, the tenant gives the landlord a written notice naming the failure. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.
RenterLaw editorial Mississippi Attorney General (Miss. Code 89-8, as amended through 2018) Miss. Code § 89-8-23(1) Mississippi Legislature, 2022 Senate Bill 2461 as sent to the Governor Miss. Code § 89-8-13(2)✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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To end a Mississippi lease for the landlord's failure, the tenant sends a written notice. Email or text counts only if the landlord agreed in writing to be notified that way. The notice must say what the landlord did or failed to do. It must say the rental agreement ends on a date at least 14 days after the landlord gets the notice. That applies if the problem is not fixed within a reasonable time of no more than 14 days. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.
RenterLaw editorial Mississippi Legislature, 2022 Senate Bill 2461 as sent to the Governor Miss. Code § 89-8-13(3)✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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In Mississippi, a tenant may give the landlord a notice to end the lease. The landlord must have materially (in an important way) failed to follow the lease or the duties set by Section 89-8-23. The notice must be in writing. An email or text counts only if the landlord agreed in writing to get notices that way. The notice must name what the landlord did wrong. It must give an end date at least 14 days after the landlord gets it. If the landlord adequately fixes the problem before that date, the lease does not end. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.
RenterLaw editorial Mississippi Legislature, 2022 Senate Bill 2461 as sent to the Governor Miss. Code § 89-8-13(2)✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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In Mississippi, suppose the landlord got a notice about a failure and substantially the same failure happens again within 6 months. If the landlord does not show due care, the tenant may end the rental agreement on at least 14 days' notice. The notice must be in writing, or by email or text if the landlord agreed in writing. If a court later disagrees, you can owe the rent and face eviction. Get legal help first.
RenterLaw editorial Mississippi Legislature, 2022 Senate Bill 2461 as sent to the Governor Miss. Code § 89-8-13(3)(b)✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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A Mississippi landlord must return all prepaid and unearned (unused) rent when a rental agreement ends under Section 89-8-13. The landlord must also return the security the tenant can recover under Section 89-8-21.
✓ Sources checked October 3, 2026
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