Cal. Civ. Code § 89-8-15
Repair of defects by tenant.
Operative Text
(1) If, within thirty (30) days after written notice to the landlord of a specific and material defect which constitutes a breach of the terms of the rental agreement or of the obligation of the landlord under Section 89-8-23, the landlord fails to repair such defect, the tenant: (a) May repair the defect; and (b) Except as otherwise provided in subsection (2) of this section, shall be entitled to reimbursement of the expenses of such repairs within forty-five (45) days after submission to the landlord of receipted bills for such work, provided that: (i) The tenant has fulfilled the obligations required under Section 89-8-25; (ii) The expenses incurred in making the repairs do not exceed an amount equal to one (1) month’s rent; (iii) The tenant has not exercised the remedy provided by this section in the six (6) months immediately preceding; and (iv) The tenant is current in rental payments. (2) A tenant shall not be entitled to be reimbursed for repairs made pursuant to this section in an amount greater than the usual and customary charge for such repairs. (3) Before correcting a condition affecting facilities shared by more than one (1) dwelling unit, the tenant shall notify all other tenants sharing such facilities of the plans for the repairs and shall so arrange the work as to create the least practicable inconvenience to the other tenants. (4) The cost of repairs made by a tenant pursuant to this section may be offset against future rent. (5) No provision of this section shall be construed to grant a lien against the real property. History Laws, 1991, ch. 478, § 8, eff from and after July 1, 1991; Laws, 2022, ch. 501, § 25, eff from and after passage (approved April 21, 2022).
Under Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-15, when a landlord fails to fix a specific, material defect that breaches the rental agreement or the landlord's statutory duties within 30 days of receiving written notice, the tenant is permitted to arrange and pay for the repairs themselves. The tenant may then seek reimbursement from the landlord within 45 days of submitting receipted bills, subject to several conditions: the repair cost cannot exceed one month's rent, the tenant must be current on rent, the tenant must have met their own obligations under Section 89-8-25, and the remedy cannot have been used in the prior six months. Any unreimbursed repair costs may be offset against future rent, though the provision does not create a lien on the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-15, compliant property owners and managers generally respond promptly to written notices of material defects, completing qualifying repairs within the 30-day window the statute provides before a tenant's self-help remedy is triggered. When a tenant does exercise this remedy and submits receipted bills, operators typically process reimbursement within the 45-day period and verify that the claimed amount does not exceed the usual and customary charge for the work performed. Maintaining clear records of written notices received, repair timelines, and payment histories helps operators demonstrate compliance with the conditions set out in this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-15 gives tenants a self-help repair remedy when a landlord has received written notice of a specific, material defect and has not corrected it within 30 days. To qualify for reimbursement, a tenant generally needs to be current on rent, have fulfilled their own obligations under Section 89-8-25, not have used this remedy in the past six months, and keep repair costs within one month's rent — submitting receipted bills to the landlord afterward. Tenants who believe a landlord is refusing to reimburse valid repair expenses may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or a licensed attorney familiar with Mississippi landlord-tenant law to understand the options available under this provision.
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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