Missouri landlords who wrongfully withhold deposits may owe up to 3× the deposit amount. Learn your rights under Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300.
Analyze My Missouri Claim (Free)Law verified March 11, 2026
Find out if your Missouri landlord may owe you. free, 2 minutes
Check My DepositIf your Missouri landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit, you may be entitled to recover up to 3 times the amount wrongfully kept under Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300(6). This is on top of recovering the deposit itself. The multiplier is the penalty for the violation. Tenant may recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus up to twice that amount as damages.
No intent required. Miss the 30-day deadline and the 3x cap can apply under Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300(6). Your landlord cannot avoid it by claiming forgetfulness or confusion.
Penalty
If your Missouri landlord wrongfully withholds your deposit, you may be entitled to recover up to 3 times the amount wrongfully kept under Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300(6). This is on top of recovering the deposit itself. The multiplier is the penalty for the violation. Tenant may recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus up to twice that amount as damages.
No intent required. Miss the 30-day deadline and the 3x cap can apply under Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300(6). Your landlord cannot avoid it by claiming forgetfulness or confusion.
Example
Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300(6)
To recover penalties under Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300(6), you generally need to: document the move-out date and the missed deadline, send a written demand letter citing the statute, and, if necessary, file in Missouri small claims court (up to $5,000).
A demand letter that specifically cites Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300(6) and calculates the potential Up to 3x your deposit often prompts landlords to settle without going to court.
Questions
Your Missouri landlord has 30 days after your move-out date to return your security deposit along with an itemized statement of any deductions. This deadline is set by Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300.
If your landlord misses the 30-day deadline, you may be entitled to up to 3× the amount wrongfully withheld under Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300(6). The penalty applies when your landlord acted in bad faith.
No. Missouri law under Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300 explicitly prohibits landlords from deducting for normal wear and tear. This includes faded paint, minor scuffs, small nail holes, and carpet thinning from regular use. Deductions must be for actual damage beyond what normal living causes.
Under Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300(6), you may recover up to 3x the deposit amount wrongfully withheld. You must show the landlord acted in bad faith.
To recover the penalty, you must show your landlord acted in bad faith under Mo. Rev. Stat. §535.300(6), knowingly withholding the deposit without legitimate grounds.
More Missouri Topics
Free analysis | Missouri law | 2 minutes
Check My Missouri Deposit (Free)