General information, not legal advice. This template is a starting point. Laws differ by state and city, so have a licensed attorney review your final document before you use it.
Last reviewed
The short version
- A free Missouri edition of our residential lease agreement template, as a PDF to print and a Word file to edit.
- A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent.
- Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit or send an itemized list of damages with the balance.
- Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet.
- Have a Missouri attorney review your final version before you use it.
A fixed-term lease for a house, apartment or condo. It sets the rent, deposit, rules and responsibilities for both sides, with slots for the rules of the state where the home is located. This edition fills in the Missouri rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.
Missouri rules for this form
Deposit limit. A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent. (RSMo 535.300)
Deadline to return the deposit. Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit or send an itemized list of damages with the balance. (RSMo 535.300)
Required disclosures. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet. (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d))
Required disclosures. A landlord who knows the property was ever used to produce methamphetamine must disclose that in writing to a prospective tenant. (RSMo 441.236)
Month-to-month notice. Either the landlord or the tenant can end a month to month tenancy with written notice that ends the tenancy on a rent due date at least one month after it is received. (RSMo 441.060)
Cities and counties in Missouri can add their own rules on top of these. Check local ordinances before you sign.
What is in the template
- Parties
- Property
- Term
- Rent
- Late charges
- Security deposit
- Other charges and fees
- Utilities and services
- Occupants and guests
- Use of the property
- Pets
- Smoking
- Maintenance and repairs
- Alterations
- Landlord entry
- Subletting and assignment
- Insurance
- Default
- Moving out
- Notices
- Disclosures
- General terms
- Signatures
Before you use it
- A residential lease is the main contract between a landlord and a tenant for a fixed term, usually 6 or 12 months.
- State law sets the limits on deposits, late fees, entry notice and eviction notices, and it overrides any lease clause that conflicts with it.
- A clause that waives a tenant's legal rights is usually unenforceable and can weaken the rest of the lease.
- Have an attorney in your state review your final version, and attach every disclosure your state and city require.
For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the residential lease agreement.
Get the Missouri residential lease agreement
Free, no sign up. Fill it in by hand or edit the Word file.
General template, not legal advice. Have a Missouri attorney review before use.
Verify current law
We last checked these Missouri rules on . Laws change and cities can add their own, so confirm the current text before you rely on it, and talk to a Missouri attorney about your situation.
Laws named on this page
- RSMo 535.300
- Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d)
- RSMo 441.236
- RSMo 441.060
Official sources
Goes with this form
Using this template. Have a local attorney check it.
What does Missouri law say about deposit limit?
A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit of more than two months' rent. Source: RSMo 535.300.
What does Missouri law say about deadline to return the deposit?
Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the full deposit or send an itemized list of damages with the balance. Source: RSMo 535.300.