All About Tennessee Renter's Rights

If you are renting a home or apartment, it is essential that you know your . Under Tennessee law, both tenants and landlords have certain protections and laws that must be maintained to ensure a fair and lawful relationship. Sometimes, landlords may try to take advantage of tenants if they are unaware of their rights, so it is important you know the laws to protect yourself.

DoNotPay has a Landlord Protection product that helps you understand your rights as a renter and can guide you through the easy steps needed to:

Get back your security deposit
Resolve disputes regarding repairs needed
Break your lease early
Resolve issues with roommates

What Are My Responsibilities as a Renter in Tennessee?

According to , you have both responsibilities and rights. Some primary responsibilities of tenants in Tennessee include:

Responsibilities	Details
Cleanliness and Safety	The home should be maintained in a clean and healthy manner, with special attention being placed on the safety of the tenants. You should properly dispose of your trash, keep the area clean, and repair any damages that you cause.
Terms of the Lease	If you have a lease, you are responsible for following the terms of the lease as written and agreed to. This includes adhering to policies on pets, pest control, and maintenance.
Payment	You are responsible for paying your rent on time and in full. If paid late, you are responsible for any late fees incurred.
Laws	The renter is responsible for not breaking any laws on the property, such as drugs, violence, or other crimes.

If you violate any of the conditions contained in your lease, it becomes a legal issue and your landlord can pursue it in court.

What Are My Rights as a Renter in Tennessee?

Tennessee's renters’ rights can differ from county to county, but some basic rights are universal. As a renter, your basic rights include:

The right to live peacefully in a habitable place.
The right to live in a safe and healthy home. You should alert your landlord if repairs are needed to heat, electric, sewer, air conditioning, or other things that make your home unsafe or unhealthy.
You cannot be evicted without notice. Your landlord cannot change the locks or shut off utilities to make you leave. Eviction requires a court order and is performed by law enforcement. Lease violations such as not paying your rent must be given 30 days’ notice before eviction. Dangerous or threatening behavior requires 3 days’ notice.
Unless in an emergency, the landlord cannot enter your residence without your permission.
You have the right to bring suit against the landlord if he violates the terms of your lease or blatantly disregards your safety and health requirements.
You have the right not to be discriminated against because of race, religion, sexual orientation, etc.

What Can I Do if My Rights Have Been Violated?

If the terms of your lease have not been followed by your landlord, there are some things you can do. Before going to court, you can:

Compose and deliver a demand letter to the landlord. In this letter, you should describe the violation and the steps you have already taken. For instance: The roof leaks. You have asked the landlord three times on X dates to repair it. Describe the effect that it is having on you.
Take the landlord to small claims court to recover any damages or rent that you paid while he violated the lease.
If a dangerous situation exists, call the Police and file a report.

What if I Can’t Do It on My Own?

If you do not know what to do, or how to get started, DoNotPay has a Landlord Protection product that can help you protect your rights as a renter in Tennessee. DoNotPay can help you:

Learn about Tennessee's eviction laws and the protection you have as a tenant
Get back your security deposits
Resolve repair disputes with the landlord
Resolve disputes with roommates
Break your lease early

DoNotPay can help you in four quick and easy steps:

Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.
Select which issue applies to you.
Answer a simple set of questions, so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.
Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter, and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.

And that's it. You should hear back from your landlord directly once your demands are sent.

What Else Can DoNotPay Do to Make Your Life Easier?

DoNotPay can help you solve many of the problems you have every day, quickly and easily. Need a document notarized? Looking for a standardized legal document? Looking for missing money? DoNotPay can help solve these problems and many more. Check us out today!