Mississippi Landlord Responsibility Statement

Effective Date: November 1, 2025
Jurisdiction: State of Mississippi
Applies To: All landlords, property managers, agents and listing entities using Tentunit to list residential rental properties (including student-housing, young-professional and conventional rentals) in Mississippi.

1. Purpose

This Statement defines the operational, legal and ethical obligations that landlords must meet when listing properties via Tentunit in Mississippi. Use of the Tentunit platform constitutes the landlord’s agreement to this Statement, the Tentunit Terms of Service, Payment Terms, Fair Housing & Equal Access Policy, and all applicable federal, state and local laws. This document is not legal advice; landlords should consult qualified counsel for full compliance.

2. Listing Accuracy, Transparency & Advertising Standards

Landlords must ensure all listings on Tentunit are truthful, complete, current, and accurately reflect the unit being offered and the terms.

Required Disclosures

Each listing must clearly disclose:

Monthly rent amount, lease term (start/end or renewal/notice term) and earliest availability date.
All one-time and recurring fees: application/processing fee, move-in administrative fee, parking/amenity fees, pet fees/deposits, utility re-billing/allocations, any other required charges.
Security deposit amount (or fee-in-lieu if applicable) and full disclosure of return conditions, deduction policy, and timeframe for return.
Utility responsibilities: which utilities the tenant pays vs. the landlord; method of sub-metering or allocation if used.
Unit condition and amenities: photographs and description must reflect the actual unit offered, not a model unless clearly disclosed.
Screening criteria: e.g., income threshold, credit requirement, guarantor/co-signer policy, student status or other age eligibility if applicable.
Availability status: The unit must genuinely be available. If the unit is leased, held, or otherwise unavailable, update or remove the listing promptly.

Prohibited Practices

Advertising units that are not truly available and failing to update availability status.
Misrepresenting size (bedrooms/bathrooms), finishes, condition, view, amenities or location.
Use of “starting at” or “from” pricing without clear disclosure of eligibility, timing and unit availability.
Omitting material fees or hiding costs such that a reasonable renter is misled about total cost.
Bait-and-switch tactics: advertising one set of unit/terms and offering materially different unit or terms without full disclosure.

Legal Context

Mississippi’s residential landlord-tenant law is codified under the Mississippi Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Miss. Code Ann. §§ 89-8-1 et seq. For example, § 89-8-21 covers security deposit handling. Although Mississippi law has fewer prescriptive advertising rules than some states, landlords still must comply with federal truth-in-advertising and fair housing laws.

3. Fair Housing & Equal Access

Landlords must comply with:

The federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.).
Applicable state/local non-discrimination requirements. Note: Mississippi does not have a comprehensive statewide fair-housing statute separate from federal law. Nolo+1

Landlords must:

Apply neutral, consistently enforced screening criteria to all applicants without regard to protected status (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status).
Provide reasonable accommodations/modifications for persons with disabilities when required by law.
Avoid discriminatory statements in advertising, screening, communications or leasing decisions.
Maintain documentation of screening criteria, decisions and any accommodation requests.

4. Communication Standards & Platform Responsiveness

To support Tentunit’s student/young-professional market and ensure platform credibility, landlords must maintain timely, documented communication.

Acknowledge listing inquiries, application submissions or maintenance/repair requests via Tentunit (or another documented channel) within 24 hours, and aim for substantive next-step response within 48 hours.
Notify applicants of status (approved, denied, wait-list) and notify tenants of scheduled entries/inspections/maintenance or changes in terms/policies.
Maintain listing currency: if rents change, availability status changes, photos or policies change, update listing promptly.
Communicate in a professional, respectful, non-discriminatory manner. Repeated failures to respond or abusive/discriminatory conduct may result in listing removal or account suspension by Tentunit.

5. Lease Execution, Legal Compliance & Contract Terms

All leases executed via Tentunit for Mississippi properties must comply with state law and reflect best-practice standards.

Required Lease Elements & Compliance

A written lease (or properly documented and executed electronic equivalent) is strongly recommended. The Act applies to “agreement, oral or written”.
Must include landlord/agent full legal name and address for notices and service.
The lease must clearly state: rent amount and due date; lease term (fixed or periodic); renewal/termination mechanics; security deposit amount and handling; all recurring and one-time fees; utility responsibilities; screening criteria; student/young-professional relevant terms (sub-letting, roommates, early release) if applicable.
Required disclosures: e.g., federal lead-based paint hazard disclosure for units built before 1978.
The lease must not include provisions that waive tenant statutory rights (see § 89-8-5).
Termination/notice provisions must align with Mississippi law (e.g., 3-day pay-or-quit for non-payment of rent, 14-day or 30-day notices in other cases) as per § 89-8-13.

6. Habitability, Maintenance & Repair Obligations

Landlords must deliver and maintain leased premises in a safe, habitable, clean, and code-compliant condition per Mississippi law.
Key obligations include:

Maintain structural integrity: roofs, walls, floors, windows/doors, stairways/porches, hand-rails must be safe and sanitary.
Maintain functioning utilities/systems if they are provided or required by lease: plumbing, electrical, sanitation, secure locks.
Respond in a reasonable timeframe to tenant-reported conditions materially affecting health or safety. Under § 89-8-15 a tenant may repair and deduct after 30 days written notice.
Maintain documentation: repair request date/time, vendor/work-order, completion date/time, tenant notifications, before/after photos.
Prohibit retaliation: Landlord must not raise rent, reduce services, or evict a tenant for exercising legal rights (repair requests, deposit claim, etc.).

7. Entry, Inspection & Tenant Privacy

Landlords must respect the tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment and provide access for repairs or inspections with appropriate notice and documentation.

Mississippi law does not prescribe a strict statewide notice period for non-emergency entry. However, best practice (and Tentunit expectation) is at least 24 hours’ written notice for non-emergency entry and entry during reasonable hours (e.g., 8:00 a.m.–8:00 p.m.).
Entry must be for legitimate purposes: repairs/maintenance, unit showings, inspections, as specified in lease or in emergencies.
Landlord must document: notice sent (date/time), tenant occupant presence/consent, date/time of entry, purpose of entry, condition observed and photographs if applicable.
For move‐out inspections, best practice is to offer tenant an initial walkthrough and use a condition checklist with timestamped photo documentation to support deposit handling.

8. Security Deposit Handling & Administration

Mississippi law under Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 governs security deposit rules.

Key Rules

Landlord may collect a deposit that is primarily to secure performance of the rental agreement; no statutory maximum deposit is specified.
Upon termination of tenancy, delivery of possession and tenant’s demand, the landlord must refund any remaining portion of deposit no later than 45 days after those events. § 89-8-21(3).
The landlord may claim deductions only for amounts “reasonably necessary” to: (a) remedy defaults in rent payment; (b) repair damages caused by tenant beyond ordinary wear & tear; (c) clean premises upon termination; or (d) other reasonable and necessary expenses resulting from tenant default. The landlord must deliver a written itemized notice specifying claimed amounts. § 89-8-21(3).
If the landlord wrongfully retains a deposit or any portion without good faith, tenant may seek damages not to exceed $200 in addition to actual damages. § 89-8-21(4).
There is no requirement that landlord pay interest on deposits, or that the funds be held in a specific escrow/trust account.

Tentunit Requirements for Landlords

Use a signed move-in condition checklist with date-stamped photographs at start of tenancy.
Clearly disclose in listing and in lease: deposit amount, conditions for deductions, timeframe for return, forwarding address requirement.
Maintain full ledger of deposit collection, date, amount, forwarding address, itemized deduction statement, refund date.
Return deposit or send itemized statement plus balance within statutory timeframe (45 days) after termination and demand.
Avoid trying to treat any portion of the deposit as non-refundable without explicit disclosure and lawful basis.
If the property is sold or landlord interest transfers during tenancy, ensure deposit handling/documentation of transfer is consistent with best practice and notify tenant.

9. Student-Housing & Young-Professional Specific Standards

Given Tentunit’s focus on student and young-professional rental markets, landlords must meet additional elevated standards:

In the listing disclose: proximity to campus/university, public transit/parking policy/fees, sub-letting or early-termination policy, lease renewal/non-renewal process.
Provide digital onboarding materials tailored to younger renters: move-in guide, utility setup instructions, emergency contact info, roommate/shared housing rules if applicable.
Avoid predatory practices aimed at students (e.g., excessive non-refundable fees, misleading claims, forced guarantor without lawful alternative).
Maintain communication channels (mobile/app notifications, after-hours support) appropriate for younger demographic.
House rules (cleaning schedules, noise/guest policy, roommate obligations) must align with statutory rights and lease terms; must be clearly disclosed and enforced fairly.

10. Documentation, Audit, Compliance & Platform Enforcement

Landlords must maintain institutional-level documentation; Tentunit retains robust enforcement rights.

Record-Keeping Requirements

Landlords must maintain for each unit/tenancy:

Listing metadata: upload date, photo version history, fee schedule changes, availability changes.
Applicant/screening logs: inquiry date/time, screening criteria applied, applications received, approvals/denials, communications.
Executed lease file: signed lease (digital or paper), amendments/renewals, disclosures, guarantor/co-signer documentation if applicable.
Maintenance/repair logs: tenant request date/time, vendor/work-order number if any, completion date/time, tenant notifications, before/after photographs.
Entry/inspection logs: notice sent date/time, actual entry date/time, purpose, who entered, condition observed, photograph evidence where applicable.
Security deposit records: deposit amount and date collected; forwarding address documentation; itemized deduction statement; refund date/date of mailing; account/tracking information if applicable.
Communication logs: tenant-landlord messages via Tentunit portal or other documented channel: listing inquiries, application status updates, maintenance scheduling, entry/inspection notices, lease renewal/termination communications.

Enforcement Rights of Tentunit

Tentunit may:

Audit landlord compliance (listing practices, lease documentation, maintenance/entry logs, deposit handling) at any time without prior notice.
Suspend or remove listings for material or repeated non-compliance with this Statement, Tentunit policies or Mississippi/federal law.
Freeze or withhold landlord payouts related to units flagged for unresolved compliance issues (e.g., deposit disputes, habitability complaints).
Terminate landlord’s platform account permanently for serious or repeated violations.
Report non-compliance or unlawful conduct to appropriate state/local regulatory or enforcement agencies (including Mississippi Attorney General’s Office) if applicable.
Seek recovery of damages, attorney’s fees and platform enforcement costs where permitted.

11. Indemnification

Landlord agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Tentunit, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents and contractors from and against any and all claims, losses, liabilities, damages, costs (including attorneys’ fees) arising out of or in connection with:

Landlord’s breach of this Statement or any Tentunit policy.
Landlord’s violation of federal, state or local housing or landlord-tenant laws/regulations.
Landlord’s mis-representation of listing, unit condition, availability, terms or fees.
Tenant claims or disputes arising from landlord’s acts or omissions.
Platform investigations or regulatory enforcement triggered by landlord non-compliance.

12. Governing Law & Reference Statutes

Mississippi Statutes & Reference Materials

Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-21 – Tenant’s Security Deposit. Justia Law+1
Nolo overview: “Overview of Landlord-Tenant Laws in Mississippi” (security deposit limits, habitability, termination) Nolo
“Residential Landlord and Tenant Act” (Miss. Code Ann. §§ 89-8-1 et seq.) guide. Attorney General Lynn Fitch

Federal Law Foundations

Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.)
Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (units built prior to 1978)
Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (SCRA) for eligible tenants