Tennessee Lease Termination Letter Template

A written notice that ends a tenancy, with one version for landlords and one for tenants, plus move-out and deposit details and a proof of delivery. This edition fills in the Tennessee rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.

Tennessee rules for this form

Month-to-month notice. In covered counties either side ends a month to month tenancy with written notice at least 30 days before the rent date named in the notice. (Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-512)

Ending a tenancy without cause. In covered counties either side can end a month to month tenancy with written notice at least 30 days before the rent date named in the notice, and a week to week tenancy with 10 days; no reason is required. (Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-512)

Military service. A service member can end a residential lease after entering active service, or after receiving permanent change of station or deployment orders, with written notice and a copy of the orders. (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955))

Domestic violence survivors. A tenant who is, or whose household member is, a victim of domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking can end the lease with written notice, a release date within 30 days and a qualifying protection order or police based charge, and owes rent for the month the tenancy ends. (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act)

Unlivable conditions. If fire or other casualty makes the unit substantially unusable, the tenant may move out at once and end the lease by written notice within 14 days. (Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-503)

Landlord duty to re-rent. In covered counties, if a tenant abandons the unit the landlord must use reasonable efforts to re-rent it at a fair rent, and the old lease ends when a new tenancy begins. (Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-507(c))

Cities and counties in Tennessee can add their own rules on top of these. Check local ordinances before you sign.

What is in the template

1. Version A: landlord to tenant
2. Proof of delivery
3. Version B: tenant to landlord

Before you use it

• A termination letter ends a tenancy the normal way, such as at the end of a lease or with notice on a month-to-month tenancy.
• It is different from an eviction notice, which responds to unpaid rent or a lease violation.
• The notice period, delivery method and any required reason come from the lease and from state and local law.
• Keep a copy and proof of how and when you delivered it.

For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the lease termination letter.