MO HB1885

Limits security deposits to a maximum of two months' rent for all landlords.

Requires landlords to return security deposits or provide an itemized list of damages within thirty days of lease termination and mail both to the tenant's last known address.

Permits landlords to withhold deposits only for unpaid rent, restoring the unit to initial condition (normal wear and tear excepted), or compensating for tenant failure to give proper lease termination notice with reasonable mitigation efforts.

Requires landlords with twenty or more rental units to place security deposits in escrow accounts at federally insured banks within the state and disclose the account location to tenants.

Allows tenants to recover up to twice the amount of wrongfully withheld deposits as damages, and preserves landlords' rights to pursue additional damages beyond the security deposit.