Landlord & Housing · free generator
Mississippi Security Deposit Demand Letter
You moved out, you left the place in decent shape, and your deposit still has not come back. In Mississippi, that is not a judgment call: under Mississippi Code Annotated section 89-8-21 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act), your former landlord generally has 45 days to return your deposit or send an itemized statement of deductions. This generator produces a demand letter that cites Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 by name, states the legal deadline, and puts your landlord on notice that small claims court — where Mississippi hears claims up to $3,500 — is the next stop. You do not need perfect English or a lawyer for this; the statute does the arguing. Fill in the blanks below, send it by certified mail, and keep a copy — the letter that cites the actual law is the one that gets answered.
[Date]
[Your former landlord's name]
Re: Demand for return of security deposit — [Rental property address]
Dear [Your former landlord's name],
I am writing to formally demand the return of my security deposit of [Deposit amount] for the property at [Rental property address], which I have vacated and returned to your possession.
Under Mississippi Code Annotated section 89-8-21 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act) (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21), you were required to return my security deposit, or provide a written itemized statement of any lawful deductions, within 45 days. Yes - any amount claimed must be asserted by written notice delivered to the tenant that itemizes each amount claimed, within the 45-day window. Deductions for normal wear and tear are not permitted.
As of the date of this letter, I have received neither my deposit nor a lawful accounting for it. Please send the full amount of [Deposit amount] to my forwarding address: [Forwarding address for payment].
If I do not receive payment or a lawful written response within 10 days, I will file a claim in small claims court, where Mississippi law allows claims up to $3,500, and I will pursue every remedy available under Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21, including any statutory damages for wrongful retention.
I would prefer to resolve this without litigation. Prompt payment will close the matter.
Sincerely,
[Your full name]
Know your rights
Security deposit law in Mississippi
- Return deadline
- 45 days
- Governing statute
- Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21
- When the clock starts
- The landlord must return the deposit no later than 45 days after the termination of the tenancy, the delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant - all three events must occur. Because demand is a trigger, a written demand letter with your forwarding address is what starts the clock running with certainty.
- Itemized deductions
- Yes - any amount claimed must be asserted by written notice delivered to the tenant that itemizes each amount claimed, within the 45-day window.
- If it's wrongfully kept
- A landlord who keeps any part of the deposit in violation of the statute and in the absence of good faith may be liable for damages of up to $200 in addition to the tenant's actual damages; even without bad faith, the tenant can sue for the amount owed.
- Small claims limit
- $3,500 (Justice Court)
Worth knowing: Mississippi's remedy is modest - up to $200 plus actual damages, with no doubling or trebling - so the demand letter itself does most of the work here. The 45-day period is triggered in part by the tenant's demand, making Mississippi one of the states where sending a letter is functionally a prerequisite rather than a courtesy. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, cleaning, and other losses actually caused by your default. Justice Court's $3,500 ceiling comfortably covers most deposits in the state.
Last reviewed August 2026 · General information, not legal advice · Read the statute
Field notes
Three tips before you send
- Send it by certified mail with a return receipt — that dated record is the first exhibit a Mississippi small claims judge will ask about. Keep a copy with your move-out photos and lease.
- The landlord must return the deposit no later than 45 days after the termination of the tenancy, the delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant - all three events must occur. Because demand is a trigger, a written demand letter with your forwarding address is what starts the clock running with certainty.
- If the deadline has already passed, skip the text-message negotiation. Filing in small claims ($3,500 (Justice Court)) usually costs under $75, and most landlords pay between the summons and the hearing.
Other states
Deposit letters for every state
Straight answers
Questions people ask
How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Mississippi?
The landlord must return the deposit no later than 45 days after the termination of the tenancy, the delivery of possession, and demand by the tenant - all three events must occur. Because demand is a trigger, a written demand letter with your forwarding address is what starts the clock running with certainty. The governing statute is Mississippi Code Annotated section 89-8-21 (Residential Landlord and Tenant Act). Yes - any amount claimed must be asserted by written notice delivered to the tenant that itemizes each amount claimed, within the 45-day window.
What can I recover if my landlord wrongfully keeps my deposit in Mississippi?
A landlord who keeps any part of the deposit in violation of the statute and in the absence of good faith may be liable for damages of up to $200 in addition to the tenant's actual damages; even without bad faith, the tenant can sue for the amount owed. These cases are built for small claims court — the Mississippi limit is $3,500 (Justice Court), filing fees are modest, and no lawyer is needed.
Anything else Mississippi renters should know about deposits?
Mississippi's remedy is modest - up to $200 plus actual damages, with no doubling or trebling - so the demand letter itself does most of the work here. The 45-day period is triggered in part by the tenant's demand, making Mississippi one of the states where sending a letter is functionally a prerequisite rather than a courtesy. Deductions are limited to unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, cleaning, and other losses actually caused by your default. Justice Court's $3,500 ceiling comfortably covers most deposits in the state.
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