Cal. Civ. Code § 89-8-25
Duties of tenant.
Operative Text
A tenant shall: (a) Keep that part of the premises that he occupies and uses as clean and as safe as the condition of the premises permits; (b) Dispose from his dwelling unit all ashes, rubbish, garbage and other waste in a clean and safe manner in compliance with community standards; (c) Keep all plumbing fixtures in the dwelling unit used by the tenant as clean as their condition permits; (d) Use in a reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, in the premises; (e) Not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair or remove any part of the premises or knowingly permit any other person to do so; (f) Conduct himself and require other persons on the premises with his consent to conduct themselves in a manner that will not disturb his neighbors’ peaceful enjoyment of their premises; (g) Inform the landlord of any condition of which he has actual knowledge which may cause damage to the premises; (h) To the extent of his legal obligation, maintain the dwelling unit in substantially the same condition, reasonable wear and tear excepted, and comply with the requirements of applicable building and housing codes materially affecting health and safety; (i) Not engage in any illegal activity upon the leased premises as documented by a law enforcement agency. History Laws, 1991, ch. 478, § 13; Laws, 1994, ch. 331, § 1, eff from and after July 1, 1994.
Mississippi Code § 89-8-25 establishes a set of affirmative duties that tenants must fulfill during their tenancy. These duties include maintaining cleanliness and safety in the occupied space, properly disposing of waste, using utilities and appliances reasonably, avoiding deliberate or negligent damage to the property, refraining from disturbing neighbors, notifying the landlord of known damaging conditions, and abstaining from illegal activity on the premises. The provision also requires tenants to return the unit in substantially the same condition as received, with an exception for normal wear and tear.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-25, compliant property operators generally document the condition of a unit at move-in and move-out to establish a baseline for assessing whether tenant-caused damage exceeds normal wear and tear. Operators typically maintain records of any tenant notifications about damaging conditions and track whether tenants have been cited by law enforcement for illegal activity on the premises, as that documentation is relevant to the statutory standard. Familiarity with these enumerated tenant duties can help landlords identify when a lease violation has occurred and what evidence may be needed to support any subsequent action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Miss. Code Ann. § 89-8-25 outlines the legal responsibilities tenants carry during a tenancy in Mississippi, including keeping the unit clean, disposing of waste properly, using appliances reasonably, avoiding damage, and not engaging in illegal activity on the premises. Tenants should be aware that these duties run alongside any obligations the landlord holds, and a landlord's failure to meet their own duties may be relevant context if a dispute arises over alleged tenant violations. Tenants who believe they are being held responsible for conditions beyond what this provision requires may find it useful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office for general information about how these duties are applied.
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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