A Missouri lease agreement is a written contract between a landlord and a tenant that sets the terms for renting residential property in Missouri. It states the rent amount, the lease length, and each party's rights and obligations, and it does not cover a commercial lease or a sale of the property. FormsPal offers a free, printable template, available in eight versions, that landlords and tenants can fill out online in PDF, Word, or OpenDocument format.
Last Updated: September 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Missouri law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
Build Your Document
Answer a few simple questions to make your document in minutes
Save and Print
Save progress and finish on any device, download and print anytime
Sign and Use
Your valid, lawyer-approved document is ready
Missouri law limits how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit, sets a deadline for returning it, and requires written notice before either party can end certain tenancies. FormsPal offers several versions of this document, listed below, so landlords and tenants can choose the format that matches their rental.
The eight versions are:
Landlords who rent out a house, an apartment, or a room use this document to put the terms in writing before tenants move in. Tenants benefit too, since it gives them a record of the rent, the deposit, and the notice required to end the tenancy. Property managers use the same document when they handle a unit for an owner. A written record like this helps avoid confusion in the landlord tenant relationship.
Popular Local Rental Lease Agreement Forms
Month-to-Month Lease Agreement. This is one of the most popular ways to rent in Missouri. The tenant pays rent each month, and the tenancy renews automatically until either the landlord or the tenant gives notice to end it.
Termination Lease Letter. A landlord or tenant uses this letter to give the other party written notice that a month-to-month tenancy will end. Missouri law requires that notice to go out at least one month before the tenancy ends.[1]
Apartment Association of Missouri Lease Agreement. This is a standard fixed-term contract between a landlord and a tenant. The lease ends on the date stated in the agreement, rather than continuing month to month.
Commercial Lease Agreement. Landlords and tenants sign this version when the rented space is used for business instead of housing, such as an office, a workshop, or a warehouse.
Standard Residential Lease Agreement. This is the most common lease for a house or apartment in Missouri. It sets a fixed term, usually one year, and lays out the rent, the security deposit, and the responsibilities of the landlord and the tenant.
Room Rental Agreement. A landlord and a tenant use this version when renting out a single room in a shared home rather than an entire unit. It covers shared spaces, such as the kitchen and bathroom, along with the tenant's private room.
Sublease Agreement. A tenant uses this agreement to rent all or part of the unit to another person, called a subtenant, while the tenant's original lease with the landlord stays in effect.
Lease with Option to Purchase Agreement. This version lets the tenant rent the property with the right to buy it later, usually at a price the landlord and tenant set in the agreement.
A complete lease should identify both parties and set out the basic terms of the rental before the landlord or the tenant signs it. Most Missouri leases cover the following:
Missouri sets a minimum notice period for ending a lease, and the length depends on the type of tenancy. Either party can end a week-to-week or a month-to-month tenancy by giving the other one month's written notice of the intent to end it. Either party can end a year-to-year tenancy with at least sixty days' written notice before the year ends.[1]
| Tenancy Type | Notice Required |
|---|---|
| Week-to-week | One month's notice, in writing |
| Month-to-month | One month's notice, in writing |
| Year-to-year | At least sixty days' notice, in writing, before the end of the year |
A security deposit protects the landlord against unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear. Missouri law caps it at two months' rent, and the landlord must return it within thirty days after the tenancy ends. The landlord must also hold it in a bank, credit union, or other depository institution insured by an agency of the federal government.[2]
If the landlord keeps any part of the deposit, Missouri law requires a written, itemized list of the damages, along with the remaining balance, within that same thirty-day window. The landlord must also give the tenant a receipt for the actual cost of any carpet cleaning within thirty days of the end of the tenancy.[2]
If the deadline passes: a landlord who wrongfully withholds any part of it owes the tenant twice the amount wrongfully withheld.[2] Count the 30-day window with our deadline calculator before you raise a claim.
Before withholding any part of the deposit, the landlord must give the tenant reasonable written notice of the date and time of the move-out inspection. The landlord can send that notice to the tenant's last known address or deliver it in person. The tenant has the right to be present at that inspection.[2]
Ask the landlord to confirm in writing which bank or credit union holds the deposit, so you have a record if a dispute comes up later.
| Document Name | Missouri Rental Lease Agreement Form |
| Other Names | MO Rental Lease, Missouri Residential Lease Agreement |
| Relevant Laws | Missouri Revised Statutes, Chapter 441 |
| Security Deposit Amount | Two months’ rent |
| Security Deposit Return | Thirty (30) days from termination date |
| Avg. Time to Fill Out | 18 minutes |
| # of Fillable Fields | 119 |
| Available Formats | Adobe PDF |
Other Rental Lease Agreement Forms by State
Here are answers to common questions about a Missouri lease, covering the security deposit limit, the return deadline, and what happens when a landlord misses that deadline, along with the citations from Missouri law.
A Missouri landlord cannot demand or receive a security deposit worth more than two months' rent.[2]
Within thirty days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must either return the full deposit or give the tenant a written, itemized list of damages along with the remaining balance.[2]
If the landlord wrongfully withholds any part of the deposit past the thirty-day deadline, Missouri law lets the tenant recover twice the amount that was wrongfully withheld.[2]
The tenant can pursue a claim for double the amount that was wrongfully withheld. Missouri law makes a landlord who wrongfully withholds a security deposit liable to the tenant for twice that amount as damages.[2]
General information, not legal or tax advice.
Unless noted otherwise, the sources below are from the Mo. Rev. Stat..
