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Tenant Repair Laws in Missouri

In Missouri, a tenant of at least six months who is current on rent may repair a code violation and deduct up to $300 or half a month's rent if the landlord does not fix it within 14 days of written notice.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Missouri at a glance

Repair and deduct
Yes, up to $300 or half a month's rent
Never more than one month's rent, and no more than one month's rent in total per 12 months. The condition must violate a local housing or building code.
Landlord repair deadline
14 days after written notice
Sooner in an emergency. If the landlord disputes the repair in writing, the tenant needs a code violation certification first.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Missouri

Can a tenant repair and deduct the cost from rent in Missouri?

Yes, up to $300 or half a month's rent. Repair and deduct in Missouri: yes, up to $300 or half a month's rent. Never more than one month's rent, and no more than one month's rent in total per 12 months. The condition must violate a local housing or building code.

How long does a landlord have to make repairs after notice in Missouri?

Landlord repair deadline in Missouri: 14 days after written notice. Sooner in an emergency. If the landlord disputes the repair in writing, the tenant needs a code violation certification first.

Where do the Missouri tenant repair laws come from?

The rules above come from Mo. Rev. Stat. 441.234. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

The tenant must have lived in the unit for six straight months, paid all rent and charges, and have no uncured lease violation notices.

What this means in practice

Give notice in writing and keep a copy. Tenant repair remedies usually start running only after the landlord has received notice of the problem, and a dated letter or email is the easiest way to prove when that happened.

Document the condition before and after. Photos, videos, inspection reports from a local code office and receipts for any repair work help show that the problem was serious and that any amount deducted or withheld matches the actual cost.

Stay current on everything else. Repair remedies generally protect only tenants who are not otherwise behind on rent and who did not cause the damage, and using a remedy the state does not allow can be treated as nonpayment of rent and lead to an eviction case.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.