Tennessee Rental Laws

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

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

Real Estate Links

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