Cal. Civ. Code § 89-7-79
Goods removed, seized within thirty days.
Operative Text
If any tenant shall at any time convey or carry off from the demised premises, his goods or chattels, leaving the rent, or any part thereof, or the sum owing for supplies, unpaid, the landlord or lessor, or his assigns, may, within thirty (30) days next after such conveying away or carrying off such goods or chattels, cause the same to be taken and seized wherever found, and the same to sell in like manner as if they had been distrained in or upon the demised premises. But goods or chattels, other than the agricultural products upon which there is a lien, so carried off and sold in good faith for a valuable consideration before seizure made, shall not be afterwards liable to be taken and seized for rent or supplies. History Codes, Hutchinson’s 1848, ch. 56, art. 5(12); 1857, ch. 41, art. 5; 1871, § 1624; 1880, § 1306; 1892, § 2513; 1906, § 2850; Hemingway’s 1917, § 2348; 1930, § 2200; 1942, § 922.
Under Miss. Code Ann. § 89-7-79, when a tenant removes personal property from a rented premises while leaving rent, partial rent, or supply debts unpaid, the landlord retains a legal right to pursue and seize those goods within 30 days of their removal, regardless of where they are located. Once seized, the goods may be sold in the same manner as property that was distrained (formally seized) on the premises. However, this right does not extend to goods—other than agricultural products subject to a lien—that a tenant has already sold in good faith to a third party for fair value before the landlord makes a seizure.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Miss. Code Ann. § 89-7-79 should be aware that the 30-day window following a tenant's removal of goods is a strict deadline; compliant operators generally act promptly to document unpaid rent or supply balances and identify the location of removed property before that period expires. The statute allows seized goods to be sold through the same process used for property distrained on the premises, so familiarity with Mississippi's distraint procedures is relevant to exercising this remedy. Operators should also note that goods already sold in good faith to a bona fide purchaser before seizure are generally beyond the reach of this provision, except for agricultural products subject to a lien.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Miss. Code Ann. § 89-7-79, tenants should understand that moving personal property off a rented premises while rent or supply debts remain unpaid does not necessarily protect those goods from a landlord's legal reach, as the landlord has up to 30 days to locate and seize them. One important protection the statute provides is that goods sold in good faith to a third party for fair value before any seizure occurs are generally shielded from being taken for unpaid rent or supplies, with the exception of agricultural products subject to a lien. Tenants who believe a seizure under this provision was improper or untimely may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Mississippi landlord-tenant law to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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