| Legal Reasons for Entry |
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| Notice Requirement |
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| Penalties for Illegal Entry |
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Does a Landlord Have the Right To Enter a Rental Property in Missouri?
Missouri landlords have the right to enter a rental property only as allowed by the lease or required by the law. In Missouri, this means unless the lease says otherwise, the landlord can only enter for building code compliance purposes, and in emergencies.
Can a Landlord Enter Without Permission in Missouri?
Missouri landlords can legally enter a rental property without permission for code compliance purposes and in emergencies.
Can a Landlord Enter Without the Tenant Present in Missouri?
Missouri landlords can legally enter a rental property without the tenant present.
Can a Landlord Show a House While Occupied in Missouri?
Missouri landlords do not have the right to show an occupied house, unless this has been agreed in the lease.
How Often Can Landlords Conduct Routine Inspections in Missouri?
Missouri landlords have no specific limit on how often they can enter to inspect for required code compliance. The landlord isn’t allowed to enter unreasonably often, but what’s reasonable gets decided case by case.
How Much Notice Does a Landlord Need To Provide in Missouri?
Missouri landlords are not required to provide a specific amount of advance notice before entering. In most cases, a minimum of 24 hours is reasonable unless there’s a specific reason otherwise.
Can a Landlord Enter Without Notice in Missouri?
Missouri landlords can enter without providing advance notice, if it’s for code compliance or in an emergency.
How Can Landlords Notify Tenants of an Intention To Enter in Missouri?
Missouri landlords can notify tenants verbally or in writing about an intention to enter.
Can a Tenant Refuse Entry to a Landlord in Missouri?
Missouri tenants can refuse entry to a landlord, when the landlord is entering for any reason other than code compliance or an emergency.
What Happens If the Tenant Illegally Refuses Entry to the Landlord in Missouri?
Missouri landlords have a defense against failure to repair if a tenant illegally refuses an entry made for code compliance. Depending on the circumstances, the landlord might also be able to get an injunction to force access, or evict the tenant for failure to keep the terms of the rental agreement.
Can a Tenant Change the Locks Without Permission in Missouri?
Missouri tenants can change locks without permission if the lease doesn’t say otherwise. Note that the landlord still has a right to enter for specific reasons, so it’s reasonable for tenants to provide copies of current keys.
What Can a Tenant Do If the Landlord Enters Illegally in Missouri?
Missouri tenants can sue for breach of the rental agreement if the landlord enters illegally, and can recover monetary damages or get an injunction to prevent further illegal entries. Depending on the circumstances, the landlord might also be guilty of criminal harassment.
Sources
- 1 Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.234 (2022)
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The only statutory scheme landlords in Missouri have which places them on rental property is code compliance. See Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.234 (2022) (letting tenants repair and deduct for certain code issues) and Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.510 (2022) (giving tenants a cause of action to abate rent for certain code issues)
Source Link - 2 Missouri law is completely silent on any requirements for time, place, and manner of landlord entry. In general, this means the tenant can choose to unilaterally exclude the landlord for any purposes that aren’t explicitly for required legal compliance, but the landlord can do those required entries in any way that doesn’t actively harass the tenant.
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Missouri law is completely silent on any requirements for time, place, and manner of landlord entry. In general, this means the tenant can choose to unilaterally exclude the landlord for any purposes that aren’t explicitly for required legal compliance, but the landlord can do those required entries in any way that doesn’t actively harass the tenant.
- 3 Mo. Rev. Stat. 565.091(1) (2022)
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In Missouri, an act that could reasonably be interpreted as intended to distress another person may be criminal harassment. See Mo. Rev. Stat. 565.091(1) (2022) (“A person commits the offense of harassment in the second degree if he or she, without good cause, engages in any act with the purpose to cause emotional distress to another person.”). The threshold for harassment can be quite slight; see, e.g., State v. Placke, 733 S.W.2d 847 (Mo. Ct. App. 1987) (holding that four messages on an answering machine was sufficiently repeated conduct to be harassment)
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