Tennessee Rental Lease Agreement Templates (8)

Application to Amend Lease: Tenants may use this form to request that an amendment be made to the original lease agreement (the landlord has the final say as to whether or not they will accept the submission).

1.) Identification of the Landlord or Authorized Personnel (§ 66-28-302) – The names and addresses for the owner of the property must be appropriately divulged in the written lease agreement. Any authorized official serving to manage any required action for maintenance on the premises should be listed as well.

2.) Lead-Based Paint (42 U.S. Code § 4852d) – Buildings that have been constructed before 1978 may pose a hazard to any tenant residing on the property because of the possibility of on-site lead-compound paint. Literature disclosing the information on the hazardous impact of exposure should be included within the leasing document.

3.) Property Showings During Tenancy (§ 66-28-403) – To showcase the unit for future tenants during the current tenancy, a clause allowing for entry must be defined in the lease agreement. The landlord must follow regulation to permit the entrance of potential new tenants only during the last month before the lease ends and only with 24 hours advance notice.

Grace Period: Tennessee does not explicitly consider late until 5 days after it is due (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-201(d)).
Unpaid Rent: Once the grace period passes without payment, landlords issue a 14-day notice to quit to prompt payment (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505(a)(1)).

Tennessee limits any late fees the landlord applies for missing payments to no more than 10% (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-201(d)).

Landlords may recoup up to $30 in non-sufficient funds fees whenever tenants attempt payment with a bad check (TN Code § 47-29-102).

While Tennessee does not limit security deposit amount, it does require that landlords not comingle it with their operating funds (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301).

Returning to Tenant: Landlords must uphold the obligation of returning security deposit amounts (specifically) within 30 days after lease termination (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301(g)(1)).
Itemized List: Landlords deliver a cost sheet of deductions within 30 days of termination in addition to offering an inspection (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301).

Standard Entry: Landlords gain consent after giving 24 hours’ notice before entry in order to complete necessary tasks (e.g., maintenance) (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-403(a)).
Emergency Entry: Landlords do not need to give prior notice or gain consent whenever an emergency requires entry (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-403(a)).

Landlords can declare abandonment whenever the rent is delinquent at least 15 days and the tenant is missing for 30 days) ((Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-405(a))).

Tenants issue an essential services notice in writing, then regain services, obtain them or seek temporary housing at costs to the rent, especially when the courts direct so (TN Code § 66-28-502).

Duty to Mitigate: Landlords must lower the damages of lost rent by re-renting the residence rather than letting it remain empty (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-507(c)).
Domestic Violence: While Tennessee does not specifically give tenants the right to terminate, it does require landlords to safeguard tenant rights and safety (TN Code § 66-28-517).
Active Military: Whenever military service members receive movement orders while in a lease, they terminate the lease, giving 30 days’ notice (50 USC 3955)
Landlord Noncompliance: Tenants give landlords 14 days to cure noncompliance with the lease before terminating accordingly (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-501(a)).
Landlord Harassment: Tenants can use the courts to terminate the agreement or seek injunctive relief whenever landlords repeatedly abuse access (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-403(a)).
Inhabitability: Tennessee tenants use a 14-day notice of noncompliance to quit or terminate whenever landlords maintain habitability ((Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-501(a)).

Landlords and tenants can use Tennessee law to enforce oral leases for less than one year (Tenn. Code Ann. § 29-2-101(a)(4)).

Tennessee explicitly restricts local governments from enacting rent control laws on private properties (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-35-102).

If landlords establish tenant abandonment or receive quit notice from the tenant, then landlords dispose of property left behind after 30 days’ notice accordingly (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-405(b)).

A summation of all mandated regulation on residential rentals can be made available in the Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (§ 66-28-101 – 66-28-521).