Tennessee Residential Lease Agreement Template

A fixed-term lease for a house, apartment or condo. It sets the rent, deposit, rules and responsibilities for both sides, with slots for the rules of the state where the home is located. This edition fills in the Tennessee rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.

Tennessee rules for this form

Deposit limit. Tennessee law generally does not set a limit on the size of a security deposit. (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act)

Deadline to return the deposit. The Act sets no fixed number of days to refund a deposit; the landlord sends notice of any refund due to the tenant's last known address, and if the tenant does not respond within 60 days the landlord may keep it. (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act)

Notice before entry. Tenants may not unreasonably refuse entry for inspections, repairs or showings, and in covered counties a landlord may show the unit in the last 30 days of the lease with 24 hours of notice if the lease allows it. (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act)

Late fees. In covered counties a late fee cannot exceed 10 percent of the rent that is past due. (Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-201(d))

Grace period. A five day grace period, counting the due date, applies before a late fee; if the last day falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, rent paid the next business day is on time. (Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-201(d))

Required disclosures. The landlord must tell the tenant in writing that the landlord does not provide fire or casualty insurance for the tenant's belongings. (Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-201(a))

Required disclosures. When the lease is signed and the deposit paid, the landlord tells the tenant where the deposit account is kept. (Tenn. Code Ann. 66-28-301)

Required disclosures. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet. (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d))

Notice before a rent increase. No statute sets a separate rent increase notice; during a fixed term the lease controls, and a month to month tenancy in a covered county can be changed after 30 days of written notice ending the current terms. (Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act and lease terms)

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)

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. Parties
2. Property
3. Term
4. Rent
5. Late charges
6. Security deposit
7. Other charges and fees
8. Utilities and services
9. Occupants and guests
10. Use of the property
11. Pets
12. Smoking
13. Maintenance and repairs
14. Alterations
15. Landlord entry
16. Subletting and assignment
17. Insurance
18. Default
19. Moving out
20. Notices
21. Disclosures
22. General terms
23. Signatures

Before you use it

• A residential lease is the main contract between a landlord and a tenant for a fixed term, usually 6 or 12 months.
• State law sets the limits on deposits, late fees, entry notice and eviction notices, and it overrides any lease clause that conflicts with it.
• A clause that waives a tenant's legal rights is usually unenforceable and can weaken the rest of the lease.
• Have an attorney in your state review your final version, and attach every disclosure your state and city require.

For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the residential lease agreement.