Mississippi Rent Increase Laws 2024: What Tenants Should Know

Due to the absence of state-specific rent control legislation, tenants in Mississippi should be aware of the following important factors impacting rent increases in 2024:

General Rent Increase Policies

• No Rent Control: Mississippi does not have any laws that limit how much landlords can raise rent. Local governments are also prohibited from enacting their own rent control ordinances, giving landlords significant discretion over rental rates.
• Amount of Increase: Landlords can increase rent by any amount they choose, as long as they provide proper notice to tenants. There are no statutory caps on the percentage or dollar amount of rent increases.

Notice Requirements

• 30-Day Notice for Month-to-Month Leases: For tenants on month-to-month agreements, landlords must provide at least 30 days written notice before a rent increase takes effect. This notice should specify the new rent amount and the effective date.
• End of Fixed-Term Leases: For fixed-term leases (e.g., one-year leases), landlords can propose a rent increase only at the end of the lease term. They must notify tenants in writing with sufficient advance notice, typically 30 days before the lease expires.

Legal Protections for Tenants

• Discrimination and Retaliation Protections: While landlords have broad authority to raise rents, they cannot do so for discriminatory reasons based on protected characteristics (e.g., race, gender) or as retaliation against tenants who exercise their rights (e.g., reporting code violations) under the Fair Housing Act.
• Negotiation Options: If tenants find a proposed rent increase unacceptable, their primary recourse is to negotiate with the landlord or consider relocating, as there are no legal restrictions on the amount of increase.

Summary

Tenants in Mississippi should be on the lookout for possible rent hikes since, although landlords are allowed to raise rents within the law, they are nevertheless required to give notice. When faced with a rent rise, tenants should also be informed of their rights against discrimination and retaliation.

Sources:

1. https://www.steadily.com/blog/how-much-can-a-landlord-raise-rent-in-mississippi
2. https://www.landlordstudio.com/landlord-tenant-laws/mississippi-landlord-tenant-laws
3. https://www.hemlane.com/resources/mississippi-tenant-landlord-law/

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