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Missouri Security Deposit Interest Calculator & Escrow Rules

Verified Primary Statute: Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 · Last Checked: Spot a law update? Report it
$
Missouri Interest StatusNo Statutory Interest
Net Interest Owed to Tenant:

$0.00

Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300, landlords in Missouri are not statutorily required to pay interest on security deposits unless expressly promised in the written lease.

Effective Annual Interest Rate:0.00% (Not required by state statute)
Gross Accrued Interest:$0.00
Governing Authority:Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300

Missouri Deposit Interest Laws at a Glance (Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300)

State law does not mandate interest payments; deposit is returned without interest unless specified in lease.

Statutory Interest Mandate Not required by state statute (lease controls)
Statutory Interest Rate 0.00% (No statutory requirement)
Minimum Tenancy Duration No minimum tenancy required
Escrow Account & Banking Rule Trust account or financial escrow rules apply, but interest accrued belongs to the landlord unless lease states otherwise.
Governing Statute Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300 ↗

Related Missouri Rental Compliance Tools

Key Missouri Statutory Nuances & Escrow Case Law

  • No Statutory Interest Mandate: Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300, residential landlords in Missouri are not required to pay interest on security deposits.
  • Lease Terms Control: A landlord is only obligated to pay interest if a specific clause in the signed rental agreement expressly promises it.
  • Escrow Account Distinction: While state law may regulate where deposit funds are held to prevent commingling, accrued interest is not transferred to the tenant.
Worked Statutory Calculation

Missouri Standard Tenancy Deposit Review

Deposit Amount:

$2,000

Tenancy Months:

24 months

Net Statutory Interest:

$0.00

Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300, landlords in Missouri are not statutorily required to pay interest on tenant security deposits. On a $2,000 deposit held for 24 months, the statutory interest owed is $0.00 unless the written lease specifically provides otherwise.

Missouri Security Deposit Interest FAQs

Does Missouri law require landlords to pay interest on security deposits?

No. Under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300, there is no state statutory requirement in Missouri for residential landlords to pay interest on security deposits.

Can a tenant in Missouri negotiate deposit interest in the lease?

Yes. While state law does not mandate it, landlords and tenants are free to include a contractual interest provision in their written lease agreement.

Does a landlord have to keep my deposit in a separate bank account in Missouri?

State escrow laws regulate trust accounting and protect funds from commingling, but any interest generated belongs to the landlord under Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.300.

What happens if a Missouri lease promises interest but the landlord fails to pay?

If interest is explicitly specified in a signed lease agreement, failure to pay constitutes a breach of contract enforceable in Small Claims Court.