Tennessee Lease Agreements

Key Takeaways

• Lease Agreements in Tennessee act as a reference document when leasing or renting your property, highlighting the crucial aspects of the deal.
• Ready-made templates are accessible, offering a structure that suits your leasing circumstances and reduces the need for significant alterations.
• Choosing a template that complies with Tennessee regulations ensures landlords and tenants are legally safeguarded and aware of their duties and rights in the state.
• PandaDoc offers transparency and legal protection, presenting free Tennessee Lease Agreement Templates for creating comprehensive contracts.

Tennessee Lease Agreement Templates

Residential Lease Agreement

Residential Rental Agreement

Used 5,261 times

Save time and resources by using this customizable residential rental agreement to create legally binding contracts with your tenants. It includes detailed sections about all aspects of a typical tenancy, including terms, responsibilities, rent, duration, insurance, maintenance, and more.

Use Residential Rental Agreement

Use this agreement template to establish the terms and conditions for renting a residential property in Tennessee.

Tennessee Apartment Lease

Utilize this agreement template specifically designed for apartment rentals in Tennessee. It covers crucial details like lease duration, rent amount, and apartment rules, ensuring transparency and professionalism throughout the rental process.

Tennessee Room Rental

Employ this agreement template when renting out individual rooms within a property in Tennessee.

Tennessee Month-to-Month Lease

Opt for this agreement template to offer flexibility without the commitment of a long-term lease in Tennessee. It allows for short-term rental arrangements while maintaining a professional and legally binding contract.

Commercial Lease Agreement

Select this agreement template for leasing commercial properties in Tennessee. It addresses crucial considerations such as lease terms, rent adjustments, and more.

Lease to Purchase Agreement

Consider this agreement template for lease-to-own arrangements in Tennessee. It offers a structured framework for tenants to potentially purchase the property in the future.

Sublease Agreement

Utilize this agreement template to facilitate subleasing arrangements in Missouri. It ensures that all parties involved understand their rights and responsibilities in a professional and legally binding manner.

Understanding Tennessee Rental Laws 

Tennessee has consistently been an attractive location for the rental market, boasting numerous large cities with abundant leasing opportunities that benefit both property owners and renters. It’s crucial to remember that every U.S. state has guidelines and regulations that all involved parties must adhere to and abide by specific state laws (Title 66: Chapter 28 – Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act).

Security Deposit Limits

Tennessee has distinct rules related to security deposits that property owners must comply with. These laws cover essential areas like deposit caps, the deposit’s use and purpose, written notice requirements, and deposit return deadlines.

Key Elements of Tennessee’s Security Deposit Legislation:

1. Limits on Security Deposits: Tennessee has no legal maximum for the amount a landlord can request as a security deposit. However, it should be reasonable and not be an extra income source.
2. Usage and Purpose of Security Deposits: The deposit can cover unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, and any other costs mentioned in the lease agreement.
3. Mandatory Written Notice: Landlords must give tenants a written notice about the security deposit’s terms and conditions within 30 days of receipt.
4. Deadlines for Security Deposit Return: Landlords must return the security deposit within 30 days of the lease’s termination or provide a detailed statement of deductions explaining any withholdings.

Updates to Tennessee’s Security Deposit Laws in 2024:

Starting in 2024, Tennessee has updated its security deposit laws to enhance tenant protection and promote fair practices. These updates include:

1. Raised Maximum Security Deposit Amount: The legal maximum amount that landlords can charge for security deposits has been increased to $2,000.
2. Additional Disclosure Requirements: Landlords must give tenants a written disclosure detailing specific information about the security deposit, including where it’ll be stored.
3. Strengthened Tenant Rights and Protections: Tennessee has added new provisions to bolster tenant rights and protections, such as restricting the conditions under which landlords can keep the security deposit.

Eviction Procedures

• (14) Days Quit Notice: For unpaid rent, remediable? Yes.
• (14) Days Compliance or Vacancy Notice (Non-URLTA): For property damage, remediable? Yes.
• (14) Days Compliance Notice (URLTA): For property damage, remediable? Yes.
• (7) Days Vacancy Notice (URLTA): For repeated violations, remediable? No.
• (14) Days Vacancy Notice (Non-URLTA): For repeated violations, remediable? No.
• (3) Days Termination Notice (URLTA): Is remediation for violent acts or health/safety issues possible? No.
• (3) Days Vacancy Notice (Non-URLTA): Is it curable for violent or criminal acts? No.
• Immediate Vacancy Notice: For illegal activity, remediable? No.
• (30) Days Quit Notice (Non-URLTA): For lease violation, remediable? No.
• (30) Days Vacancy Notice: For no lease, remediable? No.

Please note that “URLTA” refers to the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, and “Non-URLTA” refers to jurisdictions where this act doesn’t apply. “Remediable” refers to whether the issue can be corrected to avoid termination of the lease.

Right to Enter (Landlord)

• The tenant shouldn’t unreasonably deny the landlord access to the property, including the living unit, for purposes such as inspecting the property, carrying out necessary or agreed repairs, providing essential or agreed services or showing the property to potential or actual buyers, mortgagees, workers, or contractors.
• In an emergency, a sudden, typically unexpected situation requiring immediate response, the landlord may access the property without the tenant’s consent.
• Outside of emergencies, the landlord must give the tenant at least 24 hours’ notice to enter the property during a reasonable time of day.
• If utilities have been shut off through no fault of the landlord and there’s no known emergency, the landlord is allowed to enter the property. The landlord may inspect the property to determine damages and do necessary repairs without utilities.
• The landlord shouldn’t misuse their right of entry or use it to bother the tenant.

Disclosures

All rental contracts should incorporate these disclosures, typically presented as a detailed list. Tennessee’s state regulations mandate their inclusion for every property landlords lease to tenants.

• Owner Information: Each rental property should disclose the names and addresses of each unit’s owner and landlord. This information is necessary for future legal requests and notices from the tenant.
• Security Deposit Details: If landlords decide to collect and hold security deposits, Tennessee law mandates that they reveal the location of the account holding the deposit. However, the account number isn’t required.
• Access for Property Showings: Landlords have the right to enter the property for showings before the lease term ends. The agreement must include this provision, alerting the current tenant that potential tenants may visit the property. A 24 hours’ notice is required.
• Lead-based Paint Disclosure: For homes built before 1978, federal law requires landlords to disclose the risks associated with lead-based paint. Landlords must complete an EPA disclosure form and attach it to the agreement. They must also provide prospective tenants with an approved informational pamphlet about the hazards of lead-based paint.
• Late Fee Information: Tenants have the right to be informed about the purpose of any fees charged. As such, landlords must provide this information to prospective tenants before they move in.