Tennessee Rental Laws
Your Tennessee Rental Laws Guide to helpful links and information for leases, rent, security deposits, tenant screening, real estate and government.
Official Website of the State of Tennessee
The United States Census Bureau estimates that the population of Tennessee was 6,549,352 on July 1, 2014, a 3.2% increase since the 2010 United States Census
The State of Tennessee has 95 counties.
State Rules and Regulations
- Keys Laws Landlords and Tenants Need to Know
- Tennessee Residential Landlord and Tenant Code
- Local Tenant Rights, Laws, and Protections:
- Tennessee Landlord Tenant Duties
Important Lease Terms
Security Deposits
- Amount: No Restrictions
- Return Deadline: No statutory deadline to return; 10 days to itemize
Fees and Notice
- Applications Fees: No Restrictions
- Termination Notice: 14 days to cure; tenant has an additional 16 to vacate (does not apply if substantially the same act or omission was the subject of a similar notice within the past six months).
- Tenant Rights to Withhold Rent: Yes but with conditions
Landlord Disclosures
- Tennessee Required Landlord Disclosure
- The Lead Disclosure Rule: Federal law requires that before signing a lease for housing built before 1978, renters must receive The Lead Based Paint EPA Disclosure and Lead Based Paint EPA Pamphlet
Real Estate Links
- Tennessee Real Estate Commission
- Tennessee Verify Real Estate Agent License
- Verify RE Agent License Nationwide and Canada
Federal Government
- Fair Credit Reporting Act: Federal Government legislation which promotes the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of consumer information contained in the files of consumer reporting agencies.
- Fair Housing Act: The Fair Housing Act protects people from discrimination when they are renting, buying, or securing financing for any housing. The prohibitions specifically cover discrimination because of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability and the presence of children
Credit Reports
Tenant Screening
- Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)
- Counties covered: Anderson, Bedford, Benton, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Cannon, Carroll, Carter, Cheatham, Chester, Claiborne, Clay, Cocke, Coffee, Crockett, Cumberland, Davidson, Decatur, DeKalb, Dickson, Dyer, Fayette, Fentress, Franklin, Gibson, Giles, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hardeman, Hardin, Hawkins, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Lake, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Loudon, McMinn, McNairy, Macon, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Maury, Meigs, Monroe, Montgomery, Moore, Morgan, Obion, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Polk, Putnam, Rhea, Roane, Robertson, Rutherford, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Shelby, Smith, Stewart, Sullivan, Sumner, Tipton, Trousdale, Unicoi, Union
Last Updated: April 20, 2020