Tenants who rent a home or apartment in Missouri are entitled to a number of legal safeguards, including guidelines regarding when and how a landlord may raise rent.
Tenants must be informed of their rights and guarantee they are treated fairly by understanding the state’s regulations regarding rent increases. In 2025, there will be new upgrades, so it’s critical to keep up with the changes and how they will impact you as a tenant.
Since there is no statewide rent regulation in Missouri, landlords are typically free to raise rent whenever they choose. To guarantee that rent increases are reasonable and compliant with the law, several regulations and standards must be adhered to.
The requirement that landlords give adequate notice before raising rent is one of the primary ones. The type of rental agreement you have will determine the minimum notice period.
In the event that your lease is month-to-month, your landlord is required to provide you at least 30 days’ notice before raising the rent. Unless there is a provision in the lease agreement for rent increases, the rent cannot be raised throughout the length of a fixed-term lease, such as a one-year lease.
The tenant has the freedom to negotiate or decide not to renew the lease, even though the landlord may suggest an increase in rent.
Additionally, according to the legislation, rent increases in month-to-month leases are normally only permitted at the conclusion of the lease period or with adequate notice.
In a month-to-month rental arrangement, landlords will not be allowed to raise rent more than once every 12 months starting in 2025. This implies that a landlord can only raise rent once a year, even if they so choose.
Unless otherwise noted in the lease agreement, if you are under a fixed-term lease, your rent cannot be increased until the conclusion of the lease. You can either walk out or bargain with the landlord if you don’t agree with the increase.
Although landlords are permitted to raise rent in Missouri, they are not permitted to do so for discriminatory purposes or in retaliation against tenants who exercise their rights, such as joining a union or complaining about concerns of habitability.
Additionally, it is illegal to raise rent in defiance of fair housing rules. For instance, landlords are not allowed to raise rent because of a tenant’s gender, color, family situation, or religion.
Unless specifically included in the agreement, a security deposit cannot be raised concurrently with a rent increase. A higher security deposit may be required only upon lease renewal if the landlord raises the rent; nevertheless, the increase in the deposit must be justified.
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Although there are no state-wide rent control legislation in Missouri, municipal rules in specific counties or cities may provide extra protections.
Particularly in places where there is a shortage of affordable housing, cities like St. Louis or Kansas City may start enforcing additional regulations to make sure that renters are not subjected to excessive increases.
Local governments may enact laws requiring landlords to provide more notice or demonstrate justification for significant rent increases in places where there is a high demand for housing.
Some localities might even enact laws to guarantee equitable rent increases and stop exorbitant increases that might drive out long-term tenants.
Tenants have a few options if they think a rent increase is unjust or unlawful. Finding out whether the lease agreement contains clauses addressing rent increases and renewals is the first step.
The landlord is required to abide by the conditions of the lease if it forbids a rent increase or outlines the amount and timing. Tenants can seek legal counsel, check with local government agencies, or seek advice from tenant advocacy groups if they believe the rent increase violates their rights.
The 2025 rent increase laws in Missouri uphold a system in which landlords are permitted to raise rent but must adhere to specific guidelines for fairness and communication.
The state has explicit regulations to shield renters from abrupt, unjust hikes, even though there are no state-wide rent control laws. Tenants should always read lease agreements before accepting terms, and they should be aware of any local laws that can affect their rights against rent hikes.
