Mississippi security deposit law
Can I get more than my deposit back in Mississippi?
The short answer
Often, yes. Mississippi law allows up to 1.5x the deposit in statutory damages for wrongful withholding under Miss. Code § 89-8-21, on top of the deposit itself.
Mississippi is one of the states where wrongful withholding costs the landlord more than the deposit: Miss. Code § 89-8-21 allows courts to award up to 1.5x the deposit in statutory damages, in addition to returning the deposit itself.
What this means practically: the money at stake is often larger than the deposit, and a landlord facing a potential 1.5x judgment has a strong incentive to settle when a tenant demonstrates they know the statute. Attorney's fees can also be recoverable, which changes the landlord's calculation further.
How tenants actually unlock these remedies: not by mentioning them on the phone, but in a formal demand letter that cites Miss. Code § 89-8-21, the missed deadline, and the specific exposure. That letter is usually the moment the landlord's cost-benefit flips.
If it still goes unanswered, Justice Court is where these damages get awarded, and the demand letter is the exhibit that proves you gave fair notice.
The Mississippi rules at a glance. Governing statute: Miss. Code § 89-8-21. Return deadline: 45 days. Statutory damages: up to 1.5x the deposit for wrongful withholding. Attorney's fees: recoverable in qualifying cases. Court for disputes: Justice Court, claims up to $3,500.
See what your landlord owes you under Mississippi law.
Answer a few questions about your situation and get a Mississippi-specific demand letter that applies these rules to your case, ready in about ten minutes.