MS SB2573

Amends Section 89-8-23 of the Mississippi Code of 1972 to add a new landlord duty requiring residential landlords to change all locks of a dwelling unit upon termination of a prior tenancy.

Landlords must complete the lock change within one (1) week of occupancy by a new tenant after commencement of a new lease.

A new tenant may treat a landlord's failure to change locks as a failure to repair a defect under Section 89-8-15, which provides tenant remedies for landlord non-compliance.

The lock change requirement does not apply if the defect is caused by the deliberate or negligent act of the tenant or persons on the premises with the tenant's permission.

The act takes effect on July 1, 2011.