Mississippi Rent Late Fee Rules

No Mississippi statute limits the dollar amount or percentage of a rent late fee, mandates a grace period, or requires advance notice of a late charge. The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Miss. Code Title 89, Ch. 8) contains no late-fee provision, so the amount and timing of any late fee are governed entirely by the written lease. Miss. Code section 89-8-13 reinforces this, instructing that a judge hearing a nonpayment eviction 'shall abide by the provisions of the rental agreement that was signed by the landlord and the defaulting tenant.' This makes Mississippi distinctly landlord-friendly on fees. Courts can still refuse to enforce a charge that is an unconscionable penalty rather than a reasonable estimate of loss, but the statute sets no cap.

No specific statutory penalty. Mississippi sets no maximum late fee; a charge so excessive that a court deems it an unconscionable penalty may be reduced or unenforced, but no statutory fine applies to the landlord.