HB 2381 -- Landlord-Tenant Actions

Sponsor:  Stevenson

This bill exempts landlords, or any of their representatives,
from liability for any loss or damage to household goods,
furnishings, fixtures, or personal property resulting from the
removal or disposal of the property upon the enforcement of a
judgment granting possession of the premises.  If any property
bears a label or mark identifying it as the property of a third
party, the landlord must make a reasonable effort to notify the
third party to remove the property within five business days of
the date of the execution to recover the property.

No municipality or utility company supplying an occupant of a
premise with a utility service can hold the owner of the premise
liable for the occupant's delinquent utility payment.  The
municipality or utility company can recover reasonable attorney
fees in a civil suit against the occupant.

Currently, when personal service cannot be obtained in an
unlawful detainer or rent and possession case, the court must
proceed to hear the case where a copy of the summons and
complaint was posted on the premises and also mailed to the last
known address of the tenant by ordinary mail.  The bill
eliminates the ordinary mail notice requirements and makes
posting alone sufficient to hear the case as if service had been
made.  The first-class and certified mail requirements are also
eliminated for the written notice provisions when a landlord
believes the premises are abandoned and he or she intends to
remove property of the tenant.

The amount of time a tenant's rent may be in arrears before a
landlord may take action to recover the possession of the demised
property is reduced from six months to one month.

Missouri House of Representatives
94th General Assembly, 2nd Regular Session
Last Updated October 15, 2008 at 3:12 pm