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Tennessee Rental Lease Agreements | Laws

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Updated on March 22nd, 2022

A Tennessee lease agreement is a contract between a tenant and a landlord that is used to define the terms and conditions of tenancy. Each contract provided below will be legally binding once signed by the two (2) parties. With this in mind, it is advisable for landlords to be certain that the tenant is the right candidate for a lease agreement before signing. Landlords should take precautions to avoid negligent tenants and minimize the risk of evictions.

Rental Application – Landlords should employ the use of a rental application form to investigate the background of lease applicants.

Contents

Agreements: By Type (6)

Commercial Lease Agreement – A rental contract between a landlord and a commercial tenant.

Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument

 

Rent-to-Own Agreement (Lease Option) – A lease agreement with additional terms that enable the tenant to buy the property under certain conditions.

Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument

 

Month-to-Month Lease Agreement – A rental contract with no definitive end date. The tenancy continues on a month-to-month basis and may be terminated with thirty (30) days’ notice given by either party.

Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument

 

Roommate Agreement – To be used when two (2) or more individuals are to occupy a shared living space.

Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument

 

Sublease Agreement – Tenants may use this agreement to rent out all or a portion of their leased dwelling. Subletting is often prohibited in the initial lease, so the landlord’s permission to sublet may be required.

Download: PDF, Word (.docx), OpenDocument

 

Disclosures (3)

  1. Landlord Information
  2. Lead-Based Paint
  3. Showings

1) Landlord Information

Tenants must receive a written disclosure informing them of the name and address of the landlord, the property owner, and anyone else permitted to act on the owner’s behalf. This disclosure must be supplied on or before the start of the tenancy.

2) Lead-Based Paint Disclosure

Used to disclose the presence of toxic paint on the premises of the rental unit that was built prior to 1978.

  • Download: PDF

3) Showings

Landlords may show prospective tenants a property that the current tenant is residing in provided it is thirty (30) days before the end of lease term, at least a twenty-four (24) hour notice of entry has been given, and the right of access has been indicated in the lease agreement.

Landlord-Tenant Laws

Landlord’s Access

General Access (§ 66-28-403(e)(5)) – There are no laws concerning general access. However, within the last thirty (30) days of tenancy, the landlord may enter the premises to show the property to prospective tenants under the following conditions:

  • Twenty-four (24) hours’ notice was provided;
  • The lease grants such a right to the landlord.

Emergency Access (§ 66-28-403(b)) – Emergency access may be granted without notice or the consent of the tenant.

Rent

Grace Period (§ 66-28-201(d)) – Five (5) days, not counting legal holidays and Sundays.

Maximum Fees ($) (§ 66-28-201(d)) – Ten percent (10%) of the total amount of late rent.

Rent Increase Notice – No statute.

Security Deposits

Maximum Amount ($) – No statute.

Returning to Tenant (§ 66-28-301(g)(1)) – Security deposits cannot be withheld from the tenant for longer than thirty (30) days.

Interest Required? – No statute.

Separate Bank Account? (§ 66-28-301(a)) – Security deposits for residential tenancies must be kept in a separate account.