LANDLORD GUIDE ยท MISSOURI
Reviewed November 13, 2026
For an existing private residential tenancy. Fixed-term changes, assisted housing, mobile-home spaces and required local forms need a separate review. This guide explains selected rules; it is not a coverage determination or legal advice for a particular property.
Use the rental period in a monthly arrangement
Missouri's Attorney General distinguishes a fixed written lease from an oral or monthly arrangement. Its guidance describes one month's notice for changing terms in a monthly arrangement. The notice should line up with the rent period; a month is not simply any 30 consecutive days.
Determine whether an expired lease renewed automatically or became monthly before proposing the new amount. A monthly payment schedule alone does not prove the agreement can be repriced each month. Preserve the clause governing renewal and changes.
Example: rent is due on the third
For a monthly period running from the third to the second, plan the new price for a later third after a full notice period. A letter delivered late in the cycle cannot automatically change the payment due in a few days. At $1,050 current rent, a proposed $1,102.50 is a $52.50 increase, or 5%. Record the precise dollars so rounding does not create a different agreement.
Separate changes in services and charges
If the landlord also proposes to stop paying water or add a mandatory service charge, explain that obligation distinctly and obtain the required amendment. The notice's statement that other terms remain unchanged should remain true. For a program-restricted property, identify the governing rent and approval requirements instead of assuming the private-market proposal is enough.
As a practical review, compare the current lease, rent ledger and tenant payment instructions. They should describe the same starting rent and services before you calculate the new amount.
Give a clear copy and keep the proof
Address the notice to the tenants on the agreement and preserve when and how it was delivered. If actual delivery makes the proposed date too early, revise the date and records before implementation. If the tenant disputes the change or intends to leave, review the applicable notice and possession procedures separately. A rent-increase letter does not authorize removing belongings, interrupting services or bypassing a court process.
Official sources and updates
Dated caps apply only to the periods stated. Check the official sources before preparing a later increase.