Missouri rules for property managers

Missouri's broker definition covers renting or leasing real estate, offering or negotiating rentals, and procuring tenants for others for pay. Property managers who negotiate or sign leases for owners need a broker license or must work under a broker. Since August 28, 2025, a broker acting as a single agent for a tenant must sign a written agency agreement before doing brokerage work.

Owners, lessors, and lessees acting on their own property and their regular employees; attorneys; court-appointed fiduciaries; and employees of an owner or broker limited to delivering and receiving applications and leases, accepting payments made out to the broker or owner, showing units under direct instructions, passing along prepared information, and clerical or maintenance work.

Brokers holding money that belongs to others must keep it in a separate escrow or trust account, report the account to the commission, deposit promptly, keep records open to inspection, and may add no more than $1,000 of their own money to cover bank charges.

A landlord may not demand or receive a security deposit above two months' rent. A pet deposit is not counted as a security deposit under the statute's definition.

Return the full deposit, or mail an itemized list of damages with the balance, to the tenant's last known address within 30 days. You may keep only unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, and actual losses from a tenant's failure to give proper notice. Carpet cleaning can be deducted only if the lease says so and you provide a receipt within 30 days. Give reasonable written notice of the move-out inspection so the tenant can attend. Wrongful withholding costs twice the amount withheld.

Hold deposits in a bank, credit union, or depository insured by a federal agency. Any interest earned belongs to the landlord. Housing authorities and government landlords are exempt from the holding rule.

Missouri's landlord-tenant chapters (RSMo chapters 441 and 535) set no late fee limit. Put any fee in the lease and keep it reasonable. Unpaid late fees can be joined in a rent and possession case, but they are not rent and a judgment for them alone does not support an order for possession.

RSMo chapters 441 and 535 contain no application or screening fee limit. Since August 28, 2025, cities and counties may not restrict a landlord's own screening criteria on income, credit, eviction or property damage history, or criminal history.

RSMo chapter 441 has no rent increase notice section. During a lease, follow its terms. To change a month-to-month tenancy, the safe course is written notice that takes effect on a rent-paying date at least one month after the tenant receives it, the same notice needed to end the tenancy.

No county or city may regulate the amount of rent for private residential property. Since August 28, 2025, local governments also may not ban source-of-income refusals (except for veterans' benefits), restrict landlord screening criteria, limit deposit amounts, or require a tenant right of first refusal.

Before filing a rent and possession case, rent must be due and you or your agent must have demanded payment. The one-month notice in § 441.060 is not required. File a verified statement with an associate circuit judge in the county.

If a tenant for a term of two years or less (or at will) violates the written lease, assigns or transfers without the landlord's written consent, commits waste, or allows illegal drug activity on the premises, give 10 days' notice to vacate. Then recover possession through the court.

Either side may end a month-to-month tenancy with written notice that ends the tenancy on a periodic rent-paying date at least one month after the notice is received.

In a rent and possession case, the summons sets a court date no more than 21 business days after it issues and must be served at least 4 days before court; posting and mailing service needs 10 days. A tenant has 10 days after judgment to appeal and must post bond to stay the eviction. If the officer has not delivered possession within 7 days of receiving the writ, you may, within 60 days of judgment, carry out the eviction yourself with a law enforcement officer present.

A unit is abandoned only if you reasonably believe the tenant left for good, rent is 30 days unpaid, you post the statutory notice and mail it by first-class and certified mail, and the tenant does not pay or reply in writing within 10 days. You may then remove and dispose of belongings without liability. Removing a tenant or their property any other way without a court order is forcible entry and detainer.

Missouri's landlord-tenant chapters (RSMo chapters 441 and 535) contain no landlord entry or advance notice section. Write entry rules into the lease and give reasonable notice except in emergencies.

A tenant who has lived there 6 consecutive months, paid all rent, and has no uncured written violation notice may fix a local housing or building code violation after 14 days' written notice and deduct the cost, up to $300 or half a month's rent (whichever is greater) but never more than one month's rent, and no more than one month's rent in any 12 months. If you dispute the repair in writing within the notice period, the tenant first needs a written code violation certification from the city. Leases cannot waive this right.

At or before move-in, give the tenant in writing the name and address of the person managing the premises and of an owner or agent for service of process and notices, and keep it current. A manager who fails to do this becomes the landlord's agent for notices and landlord duties. If you know a unit was used to make methamphetamine, disclose it in writing before leasing. To deduct carpet cleaning from the deposit, the lease must say so. Federal lead paint disclosure rules also apply to pre-1978 housing.

The Missouri Human Rights Act covers race, color, religion, national origin, ancestry, sex, disability, and familial status. Local governments may not require landlords to accept housing vouchers, but may protect tenants receiving veterans' benefits.

Cities and counties may no longer ban source-of-income refusals (except to protect veterans' benefits recipients), restrict screening on income, credit, eviction, property damage, or criminal history, cap deposits, or require a tenant right of first refusal.

A broker acting as a single agent for a buyer or tenant must sign a written agency agreement before performing brokerage acts, not during them.

No county, city, or other political subdivision may impose or enforce a moratorium on eviction proceedings unless state law specifically allows it.

An owner or authorized agent can petition for an ex parte order removing unlawful occupants who were never tenants of a residential property not leased for three consecutive months, with a hearing within 48 hours.

• NARPM Heart of America (Kansas City) Chapter

• Missouri Commission on Human Rights
• Metropolitan St. Louis Equal Housing and Opportunity Council