Missouri Repairs & Tenant Remedies
Missouri rules on repairs & habitability for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: Allowed in narrow cases: tenant must have lived there 6 consecutive months, be current on rent, and have no uncured written lease-violation notice. RSMo 441.234
The rules in Missouri
| Repair and deduct | Allowed in narrow cases: tenant must have lived there 6 consecutive months, be current on rent, and have no uncured written lease-violation notice. The condition must affect habitability, sanitation, or security and violate a local housing/building code. Reasonable repair cost must be under $300 or one-half month's rent, whichever is greater, but never more than one month's rent. Tenant gives written notice; landlord has 14 days (or promptly in an emergency) to fix. Tenant then gives an itemized statement with receipts. Total deductions are capped at one month's rent in any 12-month period. If the landlord disputes the repair in writing, the tenant must first get municipal written certification of the code violation. The 14 days then run from certification or notice, whichever is later. This right cannot be waived by lease. Source: RSMo 441.234 |
|---|---|
| Withholding rent | No general right to withhold rent. The AG says a tenant who withholds rent may be evicted. Exceptions: repair-and-deduct under 441.234, and court-ordered rent payments in a deficient-housing/nuisance receivership action, which are a defense to eviction for nonpayment. Per the AG guide 'Missouri's Landlord-Tenant Law' (revised Sept. 2025). For 441.580, see https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=441.580 Source: RSMo 441.234; 441.570-441.580 |
| Landlord retaliation | No general statewide anti-retaliation statute for residential tenants. No section of Chs. 441, 534 or 535 bars retaliation against residential tenants. Fair-housing retaliation rules and local ordinances may apply. Whether courts recognize a common-law retaliatory-eviction defense is not settled by statute. Chapter lists: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=534 and https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneChapter.aspx?chapter=535. |
Related questions
Missouri vs. neighboring states
| State | Repair and deduct | Withholding rent | Landlord retaliation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Missouri | Allowed in narrow cases: tenant must have lived there 6 consecutive months, be current on rent, and have no uncured written lease-violation notice. The condition must affect habitability, sanitation, or security and violate a local housing/building code. Reasonable repair cost must be under $300 or one-half month's rent, whichever is greater, but never more than one month's rent. Tenant gives written notice; landlord has 14 days (or promptly in an emergency) to fix. Tenant then gives an itemized statement with receipts. Total deductions are capped at one month's rent in any 12-month period. RSMo 441.234 | No general right to withhold rent. The AG says a tenant who withholds rent may be evicted. Exceptions: repair-and-deduct under 441.234, and court-ordered rent payments in a deficient-housing/nuisance receivership action, which are a defense to eviction for nonpayment. RSMo 441.234; 441.570-441.580 | No general statewide anti-retaliation statute for residential tenants. RSMo Chs. 441, 534 and 535 (no section on retaliation) |
| Arkansas | Not available. For leases entered into or renewed after November 1, 2021, the implied minimum standards are: hot and cold running water, electricity, potable drinking water, code-conforming sewer and plumbing, a functioning roof and building envelope, and existing heat and air conditioning. If the tenant is current on rent and gives written notice, and the landlord does not remedy the problem within 30 calendar days, the tenant's sole remedy is to terminate the lease without penalty and receive the recoverable deposit. Ark. Code Ann. § 18-17-502 (added by Act 1052 of 2021) | Not allowed. A tenant may not offset or withhold rent for any alleged or actual violation of the implied quality standards. In an unlawful detainer, a tenant who stays in possession must deposit rent into the court registry. Ark. Code Ann. §§ 18-17-502(d)(3), 18-60-307(c) | 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 |
| Illinois | Allowed for repairs costing no more than the lesser of $500 or one-half of monthly rent: tenant sends written notice by registered/certified mail; if landlord does not repair within 14 days (or sooner in an emergency), tenant may have a licensed, insured, unrelated tradesman do the work and deduct the paid bill from rent. 765 ILCS 742/5, 742/10, 742/15 | No general statewide rent-withholding statute. The AG lists, as an eviction defense, withholding a reasonable portion of rent where the landlord failed to maintain utilities or make repairs after notice. Illinois AG fact sheet 'Eviction Defenses' | Landlord may not knowingly terminate, raise rent, decrease services, sue or threaten to sue for possession, or refuse to renew because the tenant in good faith complained of code violations to government or a community organization, requested repairs, joined/organized a tenants' union, testified about conditions, or exercised any legal right. Rebuttable presumption of retaliation if protected activity occurred within one year before the landlord's act. Remedies: defense to eviction, termination, recovery of possession, and the greater of 2 months' rent or 2 times damages, plus attorney's fees. 765 ILCS 721/5-20 (Landlord Retaliation Act) |
| Iowa | Limited. (1) If the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply heat, running water, hot water, or essential services, the tenant may give written notice and procure them and deduct the actual, reasonable cost from rent. (2) In a nonpayment eviction it is a defense, and the cost is deducted from rent claimed, if the tenant gave at least 7 days' notice before the rent due date of intent to fix a lease/§ 562A.15 violation, the reasonable cost was no more than one month's rent, and the repair was made in good faith before the landlord's termination notice. Iowa Code § 562A.23(1); § 562A.27(4) | No general right to withhold rent. In a nonpayment possession action, the tenant may counterclaim for amounts owed by the landlord; the court may order rent paid into court and decides the net amount due. Iowa Code § 562A.24 | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten an action for possession after the tenant complains to a code-enforcement agency about a health/safety violation, complains to the landlord about a § 562A.15 violation, or organizes or joins a tenants' union. A good-faith complaint within one year before the alleged retaliation creates a presumption of retaliation. Tenant may recover actual damages and attorney fees and has a defense to eviction. Iowa Code § 562A.36 |
| Kansas | No statutory repair-and-deduct remedy. Tenant may give written notice and terminate (on a rent date at least 30 days later) if the landlord does not begin a good-faith remedy within 14 days, and may sue for damages and injunctive relief. K.S.A. 58-2559 | No statutory right to withhold rent. In a nonpayment possession action the tenant must assert any counterclaim or it is waived; the court may order rent paid into court. K.S.A. 58-2561 | Landlord may not retaliate by increasing rent or decreasing services after a tenant complains to a code-enforcement agency about a health/safety violation, complains to the landlord about a K.S.A. 58-2553 violation, or organizes or joins a tenants' union. Remedies: those in K.S.A. 58-2563 (recover possession or terminate, plus the greater of 1.5 months' rent or actual damages) and a defense to eviction. No statutory presumption period. K.S.A. 58-2572 |
| Kentucky | URLTA areas: if the landlord willfully fails to fix a health/safety violation costing less than the greater of $100 or one-half month's rent within 14 days after written notice (sooner in emergencies), the tenant may have the work done and deduct the paid, itemized cost from rent. For willful failure to supply heat, water, hot water, electric, gas or other essential services, the tenant may buy them and deduct the cost. Non-URLTA areas: no statute. KRS 383.635; KRS 383.640 | No general withholding right. URLTA areas: in a nonpayment possession action the tenant may counterclaim and the court may order rent paid into court; a tenant who obtains substitute housing during an essential-services failure is excused from rent for that period. Non-URLTA areas: no statute. KRS 383.645; KRS 383.640(1)(c) | URLTA areas: landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring or threaten eviction after a tenant complains to a code agency, complains to the landlord about KRS 383.595 maintenance duties, or joins/organizes a tenants' union. A complaint within one year before the act creates a presumption of retaliation. Remedies: those in KRS 383.655 (up to 3 months' rent plus attorney fees) and a defense to eviction. Non-URLTA areas: no statute. KRS 383.705 |
| Nebraska | Limited: only for the landlord's deliberate or negligent failure to supply running water, hot water, heat, or essential services. After written notice, tenant may procure reasonable substitute services and deduct their actual and reasonable cost from rent (or recover diminution in rental value, or obtain substitute housing with rent excused). Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1427 | No general self-help withholding statute. In a possession or rent action, the tenant may counterclaim for amounts owed by the landlord under the Act, and the court may order the tenant to pay accrued/accruing rent into court; if nothing remains due after offsets, the tenant gets judgment in the possession action. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1428 | Landlord may not raise rent, decrease services, or bring/threaten a possession action because the tenant complained to a government agency about a housing-code violation affecting health and safety, or organized/joined a tenants' union. Tenant may use § 76-1430 remedies and raise retaliation as a defense. Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-1439 |
| Oklahoma | Yes. For a material landlord breach affecting health that can be fixed for no more than one month's rent: tenant gives written notice; if the landlord fails to repair within 14 days (sooner in an emergency), tenant may have the work done and deduct the actual reasonable cost from rent after giving the landlord an itemized statement. Cap: one month's rent. 41 O.S. § 121(B) | No general right to withhold rent. Limited rent relief: repair-and-deduct (§ 121(B)); if landlord cuts essential services (heat, water, hot water, electricity, gas), tenant may buy substitute services and deduct the cost, or obtain substitute housing and be excused from rent during the noncompliance (§ 121(C)). 41 O.S. § 121 | No general anti-retaliation statute. The Oklahoma Residential Landlord and Tenant Act does not protect tenants who complain about conditions or exercise other rights. One narrow exception: a landlord may not deny a tenancy to, or retaliate against, a tenant because the tenant previously ended a rental agreement as a victim of domestic violence, sexual violence or stalking (§ 113.3). 41 O.S. §§ 101-136 (no general retaliation section); 41 O.S. § 113.3 |
| Tennessee | Limited to essential services, in URLTA counties. If the landlord deliberately or negligently fails to supply essential services (utilities such as gas, heat and electricity, and other duties materially affecting health and safety), the tenant must give written notice and may then choose ONE remedy: (A) obtain the services and deduct the actual, reasonable cost from rent; (B) recover damages for the reduced rental value while staying in the unit; or (C) obtain reasonable substitute housing, paying no rent during the noncompliance. Attorney's fees are recoverable. T.C.A. 66-28-502 | No general rent-withholding statute. The only rent excusal: in URLTA counties, a tenant who gets reasonable substitute housing because the landlord deliberately or negligently failed to supply essential services owes no rent during the noncompliance (after written notice). T.C.A. 66-28-502(a)(1)(C) | 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 |
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Missouri Repairs & Tenant Remedies FAQ
Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Missouri?
Allowed in narrow cases: tenant must have lived there 6 consecutive months, be current on rent, and have no uncured written lease-violation notice. The condition must affect habitability, sanitation, or security and violate a local housing/building code. Reasonable repair cost must be under $300 or one-half month's rent, whichever is greater, but never more than one month's rent. Tenant gives written notice; landlord has 14 days (or promptly in an emergency) to fix. Tenant then gives an itemized statement with receipts. Total deductions are capped at one month's rent in any 12-month period. (RSMo 441.234)
Can a tenant withhold rent for repairs in Missouri?
No general right to withhold rent. The AG says a tenant who withholds rent may be evicted. Exceptions: repair-and-deduct under 441.234, and court-ordered rent payments in a deficient-housing/nuisance receivership action, which are a defense to eviction for nonpayment. (RSMo 441.234; 441.570-441.580)
Can a landlord retaliate against a tenant for complaining in Missouri?
No general statewide anti-retaliation statute for residential tenants. (RSMo Chs. 441, 534 and 535 (no section on retaliation))
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.