Missouri Landlord Responsibility Statement

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

1. Purpose

This Statement sets forth the operational, legal and ethical obligations that landlords must meet when listing properties via Tentunit in Missouri. Use of the Tentunit platform constitutes the landlord’s acceptance of this Statement, Tentunit’s 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 every listing is truthful, current, and accurately reflects the unit being offered and its terms.

Required Disclosures

Each listing must clearly and upfront disclose:

Monthly rent amount, lease term (fixed or periodic), earliest availability date.
All one-time or recurring fees: application/processing fees, move-in or administrative fees, pet deposits/fees, parking/amenity fees, any utility re-billing/allocation charges.
Security deposit amount (or fee in lieu if applicable), the conditions under which it may be withheld, and the timeframe for return or itemization.
Utility responsibilities: which utilities the tenant pays, which the landlord pays; if the landlord uses sub-metering or cost allocation, the method must be explained.
Unit condition and amenities: Photographs must represent the actual unit being offered, not a model unit unless explicitly disclosed, and must not mislead about size, condition, finishes or views.
Screening criteria: e.g., income requirement, credit/rental history check, guarantor/co-signer policy, student or young-professional eligibility.
Availability status: the listing must represent a unit truly available for lease; if status changes (leased, held, unavailable), the listing must be promptly updated or removed.

Prohibited Practices

Advertising units that are not genuinely available for lease without promptly updating availability.
Misrepresenting key facts: number of bedrooms/bathrooms, square footage, finishes, views, amenities, condition or location.
Using “starting at” or “from” pricing without full disclosure of eligibility criteria, unit availability and timing.
Omitting material fees/charges such that a reasonable renter is misled about the total cost.
Bait-and-switch: advertising one unit or terms, then offering materially different ones without full disclosure and proper representation.

Legal Context

Missouri’s landlord-tenant laws under Chapter 535 of the Missouri Revised Statutes govern key rental terms (e.g., security deposits, eviction actions). Released guidelines stress truth-in-advertising and adherence to fair housing obligations even in student-market rentals.

3. Fair Housing & Equal Access

Landlords must comply with:

The federal Fair Housing Act (42 U.S.C. § 3601 et seq.).
Missouri’s human rights and anti-discrimination laws (e.g., Missouri Human Rights Act) and any applicable local ordinance.
Landlords must:
Use neutral, consistently enforced screening criteria without discrimination against protected classes (race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, familial status, ancestry).
Provide reasonable accommodations or modifications for persons with disabilities when required by law.
Avoid discriminatory or exclusionary language or practices in advertising, screening, communications or leasing decisions.
Retain documentation of screening criteria, decisions, accommodation requests and actions.

4. Communication Standards & Platform Responsiveness

To support Tentunit’s focus (students & young professionals) and platform integrity, landlords must maintain timely, well-documented communication:

Acknowledge listing inquiries, application submissions, or maintenance/repair requests via Tentunit (or other documented channel) within 24 hours, and provide a substantive status update within 48 hours.
Inform applicants of application status (approved/denied/wait-list) and inform tenants of scheduled entries, inspections, maintenance, or changes in lease/house-rules.
Keep listing information current any change in rent, fees, availability, policies, amenities, photos must be promptly reflected.
Communicate professionally, respectfully, nondiscriminatory. Repeated failures, abusive conduct or discriminatory behavior may result in listing removal or account suspension by Tentunit.

5. Lease Execution, Legal Compliance & Contract Terms

Leases executed via Tentunit for Missouri properties must comply with Missouri law and reflect best-practice standards.

Required Lease Elements & Obligations

A written lease (or properly documented digital equivalent) is strongly recommended. While Missouri law allows some oral agreements, written form offers clarity and enforceability.
The lease must include the full legal name and mailing address of the landlord/agent for notices and service of process (see Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.185).
The lease must clearly address: rent amount and due date; lease term (fixed or month-to-month); renewal/termination terms; security deposit amount and conditions; all one-time or recurring fees; utility responsibilities; screening criteria; if applicable student/young-professional terms (roommates, sub-letting, early termination).
Must include required disclosures: for example, federal lead-based paint hazard disclosure for units built prior to 1978; other disclosures as required by state or local law.
Lease must not include unlawful self-help or waiver clauses (e.g., lock-outs, utility shut-off) — Missouri law prohibits landlord self-help eviction methods.
Termination/notice provisions must align with Missouri statutes: for example, for month-to-month tenancy, one-month written notice is required by statute.

6. Habitability, Maintenance & Repair Obligations

Landlords must deliver and maintain leased premises in a safe, habitable, clean and code-compliant condition in accordance with Missouri law and local building/housing codes.

Key obligations:

Maintain structural integrity: roof, walls, floors, windows/doors, stairways/porches, handrails must be safe and kept in good repair.
Provide functioning utilities/systems if they are part of the lease or required by code: plumbing, electrical, sanitation, secure locks/egress, heating/cooling if included.
Respond in a reasonable timeframe to tenant-reported conditions that materially affect health/safety. While Missouri does not prescribe a specific universal timeframe, best practice is prompt acknowledgement, vendor scheduling and completion.
Document maintenance: request date/time, vendor/work-order reference, completion date/time, tenant notifications, before/after photos and follow-up.
Landlord must not retaliate against tenant for exercising rights (repair requests, deposit claims, complaint reporting).

7. Entry, Inspections & Tenant Privacy

Landlords must respect tenant’s right to quiet enjoyment of the premises and provide access in accordance with law and best practice.

Missouri law does not specify a fixed statewide statutory minimum notice period for non-emergency entry. However, best practice (and expected by the platform) is to issue at least 24 hours’ written notice for non-emergency entry, during reasonable hours (e.g., 8 a.m.–8 p.m.).
Entry should be for legitimate purposes: repairs, inspections, showing unit to prospective tenants/purchasers, agreed improvements or as provided in lease.
Landlord must document: notice sent (date/time), actual entry date/time, purpose, persons present, condition observed and photographic evidence where applicable.
A move-out inspection process (walk-through with the tenant) is strongly recommended: use condition check-list, time-stamped photos, tenant present (if possible) to support security deposit handling.

8. Security Deposit Handling & Administration

Missouri law provides detailed rules governing security deposits under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.

Key Rules

Maximum amount: A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit in excess of two months’ rent. § 535.300(1).
Return/Itemisation: Within 30 days after termination of tenancy, the landlord must either:
- Return the full amount of the security deposit; or
- Provide the tenant with a written, itemised list of damages for which deposit (or portion) is withheld, plus the remaining balance. § 535.300(2)–(3).
Permissible deductions: The landlord may withhold from deposit only to:
- Remedy the tenant’s default in rent payment; § 535.300(4)(1)
- Restore the dwelling unit to the condition at commencement of tenancy (ordinary wear & tear excepted); § 535.300(4)(2)
- Compensate landlord for actual damages resulting from tenant’s failure to give adequate notice to terminate, provided landlord makes reasonable efforts to mitigate damages; § 535.300(4)(3)
Tenant’s right to inspection: Landlord must give tenant written notice of date/time of inspection following rental termination; tenant has right to be present. § 535.300(4)(4)
Remedies for wrongful withholding: If landlord wrongfully withholds any deposit portion, tenant may recover up to twice the amount wrongfully withheld. § 535.300(6)
Definition: “Security deposit” means any deposit of money or property, however denominated, furnished by a tenant to secure performance of any part of the rental agreement (excluding pet deposit). § 535.300(7)–(8)

Tentunit Requirements for Landlords

Use a signed move-in condition checklist with date-stamped photographic evidence at the start of tenancy.
At listing and in lease, clearly disclose security deposit amount, conditions for deduction, timeframe for return and tenant’s rights.
Maintain thorough documentation: deposit collected date/amount, account location (bank/credit union/depository institution insured by federal agency) as required. § 535.300(2)
Ensure deposit is refunded (or itemised list + remainder) within 30 days of tenancy termination. Keep proof of mailing/transfer.
Do not classify the deposit as “non-refundable” unless lawful and clearly disclosed; pet deposits are not subject to same deposit statute (§ 535.300(8)).
If property ownership changes during tenancy, ensure the deposit is properly transferred and notify tenant (best-practice).

9. Student-Housing & Young-Professional Focused Standards

Since Tentunit’s core market is students and young professionals, landlords should adopt elevated standards:

In listing clearly disclose: proximity to campus/university, public transport/parking policy and costs, sub-letting policy or early-lease release, lease renewal/non-renewal policy and roommate/shared-housing rules if applicable.
Provide digital onboarding materials tailored for younger renters: move-in orientation, roommate/house-share guidelines, utility-setup instructions, emergency contact information.
Avoid predatory practices targeted at students/young professionals (excessive non-refundable fees, misleading “student-only” claims without transparency, forced guarantors without alternative).
Maintain mobile/app-friendly communication channels with quick response times; enforce house-rules (cleaning/shared spaces, noise/guests, roommate obligations) fairly and consistently.
Ensure that house-rules and expectations are clearly disclosed in listing and lease, align with statutory protections and are not unduly restrictive or discriminatory.

10. Documentation, Audit, Compliance & Platform Enforcement

Landlords must operate with institutional-level compliance and maintain full documentation; Tentunit retains strong enforcement rights.

Record-Keeping Requirements

Landlords must maintain for each unit/tenancy:

Listing metadata: upload date, photo version history, fee schedule changes, availability updates.
Screening/application logs: inquiry date/time, screening criteria applied, applications received, approvals/denials, communications.
Executed lease file: signed lease (digital or paper), any amendments or renewals, disclosures, guarantor/co-signer documentation if applicable.
Maintenance/repair logs: tenant request date/time, vendor/work-order number, completion date/time, tenant notifications, before/after photos.
Entry/inspection logs: notice date/time, actual entry date/time, purpose of entry, attendees, condition observed, photographic evidence.
Security deposit records: deposit amount and date collected; holding bank/credit union/depository institution; forwarding address documentation; itemised deduction statements; refund date and proof of mailing/transfer.
Communication logs: tenant-landlord messages via Tentunit portal or documented alternate channels: listing inquiries, application status updates, maintenance scheduling, entries/inspection notices, lease renewal/termination communications.

Enforcement Rights of Tentunit

Tentunit may:

Audit landlord compliance (listings, lease documentation, maintenance/entry/deposit records) at any time without prior notice.
Suspend or remove listings for material or repeated non-compliance with this Statement, Tentunit policies or Missouri/federal law.
Freeze or withhold landlord payouts related to units flagged for unresolved compliance issues (e.g., security deposit disputes, habitability complaints).
Terminate landlord’s platform account permanently for serious or repeated violations.
Report non-compliance or unlawful conduct to Missouri regulatory or enforcement agencies (e.g., Missouri Attorney General, Missouri Human Rights Commission) if applicable.
Seek recovery of damages, attorneys’ fees and platform enforcement costs caused by landlord non-compliance.

11. Indemnification

Landlord shall defend, indemnify and hold harmless Tentunit, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents and contractors from and against any and all claims, liabilities, losses, damages, costs or expenses (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 resulting from landlord’s acts or omissions.
Platform investigations or regulatory enforcement triggered by landlord non-compliance.

12. Governing Law & Reference Statutes

Missouri Statutory & Reference Materials

Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 – Security deposits: limitation, holding requirements, return of deposit, itemised list, inspections, damages, tenant rights. Missouri Revisor+2lsmo.org+2
Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.185 – Disclosure of landlord or agent address for service. Justia Law+1
Overview of Missouri landlord-tenant law (Nolo article) – deposit, habitability, eviction, discrimination. Nolo

Federal Law Foundations

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