How Long Can a Residential Lease Be in Missouri?

Depending on circumstances, in Missouri it’s usually possible to have a lease of any length of time, as long as the length of the lease term is specific and agreed in writing by the landlord and tenant. Oral leases can almost never be for a term of more than one year.

Is a Contract to Lease Binding in Missouri?

Yes, a contract to lease is legally binding in Missouri. To be valid, a contract to lease may have to be written, especially for a fixed term over one year. Oral leases may be valid in some cases (especially when both parties later behave as though there’s an enforceable oral lease), but often have strict limitations on enforceability for things like length of the lease term.

Do Lease Agreements Need to Be Notarized in Missouri?

No, lease agreements do not need to be notarized in Missouri. A notary helps establish the identity of the people signing the lease, if there’s a claim of fraud, but a notary isn’t necessary for a lease to be valid.

Can a Lease Automatically Renew in Missouri?

Yes, a lease can automatically renew in Missouri, if renewal language is specifically put into the written lease. Without such language, Missouri courts will typically look at continued tenancy as a type of month-to-month rental agreement, with the same basic terms and conditions otherwise as the original lease.

Missouri Residential Lease Agreement

A Missouri residential lease agreement (“rental agreement”) is a legal contract between a landlord overseeing a rental property and a tenant using the property. State and local laws set the rules for rental agreements, such as laws regulating the use of a tenant’s security deposit.

Missouri Residential Lease Agreement Disclosures

These disclosures are required for residential lease agreements in Missouri:

Disclosure	Applicable To
Landlord’s Name and Address	All Units
Meth	All Units with Knowledge of Contamination
Lead Paint	All Units Built Prior to 1978

Landlord’s Name and Address

Applies to all Missouri rentals.

Missouri leases must contain the name and address of the landlord (or authorized agent). This allows required communication (for example, about repairs) to happen in a smooth way. For this reason, most leases also include phone numbers and email addresses.

Contact information most often is written in the lease agreement, for maximum convenience. The landlord must notify the tenant whenever there’s a change in contact information.

Methamphetamine Contamination Disclosure

Applies to any Missouri rental with known possible methamphetamine contamination.

Missouri landlords must disclose any knowledge of methamphetamine production, use, or storage on the rental property. Only actual information counts, not mere suspicion. The landlord must give this disclosure regardless of who was arrested or involved.

Download: Missouri Methamphetamine Contamination Disclosure Form (PDF)

Lead-Based Paint Disclosure

Applies to any Missouri rentals built before 1978.

Missouri residential leases for property built before 1978 must, by federal law, contain a lead-based paint disclosure. This requires landlords to do the following:

Fill out and attach this lead-based paint disclosure form to the lease agreement
Provide the tenant with an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) approved pamphlet about the dangers of lead-based paint
Provide any additional records or reports about the presence or hazards of lead-based paint in the unit (for multi-unit buildings with common areas, this includes information from building-wide evaluations)

Download: Missouri Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Form (PDF)

Optional Disclosures and Addenda (Recommended)

The following lease agreement disclosures and addenda are not required by Missouri law in residential lease agreements, but help with tenant management and landlord liability.

Optional Disclosure	Purpose
Asbestos	Informs tenants about any asbestos hazards related to the property. Tenants can reduce asbestos risk by not disturbing asbestos fibers.
Bed Bugs	Informs tenants whether the property or an adjacent unit has a history of suspected bed bug infestation, and reminds the tenant of the obligation to report suspected infestation immediately.
Late/Returned Check Fees	Specifies late fees or returned check fees related to the lease. Missouri caps late fees at $20 or 20% of the monthly rent (or whichever is greater), and caps returned check fees per check at $25, plus any actual fees charged by the depositing institution.
Medical Marijuana Use	Informs tenants about policy related to medical marijuana use on the rental property. Some state laws allow landlords to restrict marijuana usage to non-smoking methods only, or allow use only in designated smoking areas.
Mold Disclosure	Informs tenants about actual or suspected mold contamination on the property efforts, plus information about treatments. This helps limit landlord liability.
Move-In Checklist	Takes inventory of existing property damage, when the tenant moves into the rental property. This ensures accurate deductions from the security deposit upon move-out.
Non-Refundable Fees	Charges not agreed by the tenant in the lease may be refundable when the lease ends. For Missouri landlords to charge a non-refundable fee, it must be disclosed and agreed as such in the lease.
Shared Utilities Arrangements	Sets terms for how to divide utility costs up on properties which share a utility meter with other units. This ensures tenants receive fair charges and understand what uses contribute to their bill.
Smoking	Informs tenants of designated smoking areas that do not interfere with the quiet enjoyment of other tenants.

note

Some Missouri cities, like Kansas City, have more comprehensive rules than the statewide standard. Always check local laws.

Consequences of Not Including Mandatory Disclosures

Mandatory disclosures outline important health, safety, and property information for the benefit of both landlord and tenant. A landlord who fails to provide federally or state-mandated disclosures could face legal consequences or monetary penalties, either from a tenant lawsuit or from state officials. Many lease provisions may be unenforceable without legally required disclosures.

Failure to comply with the federal lead-based paint hazard disclosure risks fines of tens of thousands of dollars per violation.

Sources

1 Mo. Rev. Stat. § 535.185: …1. The landlord of residential property or any person authorized to enter into a rental agreement on such landlord’s behalf shall disclose to the tenant in writing at or before the commencement of the tenancy the name and address of:

(1) The person authorized to manage the premises; and

(2) An owner of the premises or a person authorized to act for and on behalf of the owner for the purpose of service of process and for the purpose of receiving and receipting for notices and demands.
…
2. The information required to be furnished by this section shall be kept current and this section extends to and is enforceable against any successor landlord, owner, or manager…
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2 Mo. Rev. Stat. § 441.236: …Disclosures required for transfer of property where methamphetamine production occurred. — In the event that any premises to be rented, leased, sold, transferred or conveyed is or was used as a site for methamphetamine production, the owner, seller, landlord or other transferor shall disclose in writing to the prospective lessee, purchaser or transferee the fact that methamphetamine was produced on the premises, provided that the owner, seller, landlord or other transferor has knowledge of such prior methamphetamine production. The owner shall disclose any prior knowledge of methamphetamine production, regardless of whether the persons involved in the production were convicted for such production…
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3 Mo. Rev. Stat. § 570.120.6(2): …(2) If a check that is dishonored or returned unpaid by a financial institution is not referred to the prosecuting attorney or circuit attorney for any action pursuant to the provisions of this section, the party to whom the check was issued, or his or her agent or assignee, or a holder, may collect from the issuer, in addition to the face amount of the check, a reasonable service charge, not to exceed twenty-five dollars, plus an amount equal to the actual charge by the depository institution for the return of each unpaid or dishonored instrument…
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