How can a lease be terminated in the State of Missouri?

If the lease is for a fixed period (such as 1 year), it terminates at the end of the lease term, unless the parties agree to early termination. For month-to-month tenancies, either party can terminate the agreement by giving 1 month's written notice to the other party.

Active-duty members of the armed forces may end a lease with 15 days' written notice if (i) they receive a permanent change of station; (ii) they receive temporary duty orders to a station at least 25 miles away for 90 days or more; (iii) they are discharged or released from active duty; or (iv) they are ordered to live in government-supplied quarters. Under any of these conditions, the tenant is entitled to a full refund of the security deposit if the other lease provisions have been met.

A landlord must give 60 days notice before terminating a lease for a mobile home lot.

On what grounds can a landlord evict a tenant?

A landlord can evict a tenant (i) if the tenant fails to pay the rent; (ii) if the tenant fails to vacate the premises at the end of the lease term; (iii) if the tenant or a guest of the tenant has damaged the premises or the landlord's property; (iv) if the tenant violates a condition of a written lease; (v) if the tenant is involved in criminal activity, (vi) if the tenant injures the landlord or another tenant. The courts have the authority to expedite removal of tenants involved in drug-related criminal activity or violence, even where there is no arrest.

It is illegal for a landlord to forcibly enter the premises, attempt to remove a tenant or his/her belongings, or cut off utilities or essential services in an attempt to get a tenant to move out.

The foregoing summary is provided for information purposes only and is not to be considered legal or business advice. The information may not be complete, accurate or applicable for any particular situation and should not be relied upon.

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