Mississippi Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation
Mississippi rules on lockouts, utility shutoffs & retaliation for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: Very limited. There is no general anti-retaliation statute and no presumption period. The only reference is in § 89-8-17(2): after a lease expires, a landlord may raise the rent only if the action's dominant purpose was not retaliation for the tenant's actions authorized under the Act… Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-17(2)
The rules in Mississippi
| Landlord retaliation | Very limited. There is no general anti-retaliation statute and no presumption period. The only reference is in § 89-8-17(2): after a lease expires, a landlord may raise the rent only if the action's dominant purpose was not retaliation for the tenant's actions authorized under the Act, and the landlord had received written notice of each condition the tenant acted on. Every duty and condition precedent under the Act, including terminating or not renewing a tenancy, carries an obligation of good faith (§ 89-8-9). The wording of § 89-8-17(2) is awkward, so the plain-English summary is cautious. Official code not freely readable online; text verified on a public code mirror (code year 2025, current through January 1, 2025). Source: Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-17(2) |
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Related questions
Mississippi vs. neighboring states
| State | Lockouts and illegal eviction | Landlord shutting off utilities | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mississippi | Not verified yet | Not verified yet | Very limited. There is no general anti-retaliation statute and no presumption period. The only reference is in § 89-8-17(2): after a lease expires, a landlord may raise the rent only if the action's dominant purpose was not retaliation for the tenant's actions authorized under the Act, and the landlord had received written notice of each condition the tenant acted on. Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-17(2) |
| Alabama | Self-help eviction is not allowed: a landlord may not recover or take possession of the home by action or otherwise except after abandonment, surrender, or as the landlord-tenant act permits. If a landlord unlawfully removes or locks out the tenant, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease and, either way, recover the greater of up to three months' periodic rent or actual damages, plus reasonable attorney's fees. If the lease ends this way, the landlord must return the recoverable deposit and unearned prepaid rent. Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-427, 35-9A-407 | A landlord may not take back a rental by cutting off heat, running water, hot water, electricity, gas or another essential service. If the landlord willfully interrupts these services, the tenant may recover possession or end the lease, and in either case recover the greater of up to three months' periodic rent or actual damages, plus reasonable attorney's fees; the landlord must return the recoverable deposit and unearned prepaid rent if the lease ends. Separately, if the landlord willfully or negligently fails to promptly restore an essential service after notice, the tenant may end the lease with at least 14 days' written notice or recover damages for the reduced rental value. Ala. Code §§ 35-9A-427, 35-9A-407, 35-9A-404 | A landlord may not retaliate by raising rent, decreasing services, or bringing or threatening an action for possession because the tenant (1) complained to a government code-enforcement agency about a health or safety violation, (2) complained to the landlord about a § 35-9A-204 maintenance violation, or (3) organized or joined a tenants' union. Remedies are those in § 35-9A-407 plus a defense to eviction. Ala. Code § 35-9A-501 |
| Arkansas | Not verified yet | Not verified yet | No statute — Arkansas has no landlord anti-retaliation statute. The Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (Ch. 17) and the deposit subchapter contain no retaliation provision or presumption period. Ark. Code Ann. Title 18, Ch. 17 (§§ 18-17-101 et seq.); §§ 18-16-301 to -306 |
| Louisiana | Louisiana's eviction procedure runs through the courts: after a notice to vacate, the landlord files a rule to show cause, gets a judgment of eviction, and a warrant for possession is executed by the sheriff, constable or marshal (Code of Civil Procedure arts. 4701, 4731-4734). After the required notice, a landlord may retake possession without further court process only on a reasonable belief that the tenant has abandoned the premises (art. 4731(B)). In parishes under a federal disaster declaration, leaving the home is not treated as abandonment for 30 days; a landlord who violates that rule owes the residential tenant $500 or twice the monthly rent, whichever is greater, and the tenant may get a restraining order (art. 4731(C)). La. C.C.P. arts. 4701, 4731-4734 | Not verified yet | No statewide statute identified. In New Orleans, the city's Healthy Homes ordinance protects tenants who use its complaint process ('protected activity'). New Orleans Healthy Homes Ordinance (City Code ch. 26) |
| Tennessee | If a landlord unlawfully removes or shuts out a tenant (a 'self-help' eviction), the tenant may get back possession or end the lease. In either case the tenant may recover actual damages, punitive damages where appropriate, and a reasonable attorney's fee. If the lease ends, the landlord must refund all prepaid rent and security deposits. Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-504 | No. A landlord may not take back a unit by deliberately cutting off, or causing the cutoff of, electricity, gas or another essential service, unless the tenant has abandoned or surrendered the unit. If the landlord willfully cuts off essential services the lease requires, the tenant may get back possession or end the lease, and in either case may recover actual damages, punitive damages where appropriate, and reasonable attorney's fees. If the lease ends, the landlord must return all prepaid rent and security deposits. Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 66-28-504, 66-28-517(d) | URLTA counties: a landlord may not retaliate by raising rent, cutting services, or bringing or threatening an eviction because the tenant complained to the landlord of a violation under 66-28-301 or used remedies under the URLTA. Exceptions: the landlord may still seek possession if the tenant's household caused the code violation, the tenant is behind on rent, or code compliance requires work that would effectively deprive the tenant of the unit. The statute sets no time-based presumption of retaliation. T.C.A. 66-28-514 |
More Mississippi rental law
- Mississippi Security Deposit Law
- Mississippi Eviction Laws
- Mississippi Notice to Vacate Rules
- Landlord Entry Rules in Mississippi
- Mississippi Repairs & Tenant Remedies
- Mississippi Rent Increase & Late Fee Laws
- Squatters' Rights in Mississippi
- Mississippi Mold, Pests, Heat & AC Rules
- Mississippi Privacy, Guests & Animal Rules
- Mississippi Landlord Selling the House
- Mississippi Subletting, Lease Endings & Tenant Death
- All Mississippi landlord-tenant rules
- Free legal help in Mississippi
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Mississippi Lockouts, Utility Shutoffs & Retaliation FAQ
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Mississippi?
Very limited. There is no general anti-retaliation statute and no presumption period. The only reference is in § 89-8-17(2): after a lease expires, a landlord may raise the rent only if the action's dominant purpose was not retaliation for the tenant's actions authorized under the Act, and the landlord had received written notice of each condition the tenant acted on. (Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-17(2))
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.