Residential Lease AgreementTennesseeContinue ↓

Tennessee Residential Lease Agreement (2026)

A complete, state-specific lease for a house, apartment or condo with every disclosure your state requires.

Updated September 2026≈ 12 minReviewed against Tenn. Code § 66-28-301 · Tenn. Code § 66-28-201 · Tenn. Code § 66-28-403
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Sample first page of the Residential Lease Agreement: title block and opening sections with blanks to fillView larger
What you'll get

Sample first page of the Residential Lease Agreement. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in Tennessee are added automatically.

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Sample first page of the Residential Lease Agreement: title block and opening sections with blanks to fill

Sample first page of the Residential Lease Agreement. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in Tennessee are added automatically.

This preview updates as you type. Blank fields show as ____ .

What this document covers

  • Parties, occupants and joint liability
  • Premises, furnishings and parking
  • Fixed or month-to-month term and holdover
  • Rent, due date, payment methods and late fees
  • Security deposit cap, holding and return deadline
  • Who pays which utilities
  • Maintenance, repairs and landlord entry notice
  • Pets, smoking, subletting and renter's insurance
  • Early termination and move-out
  • State disclosures and federal lead-paint notice

Tennessee rules that this document follows

Security deposit limitNo statutory limitSource: No statutory limit (Tenn. Code § 66-28-301)
Deposit return deadline30 days after move-outSource: Tenn. Code § 66-28-301(g) (itemized list to tenant; deposit unclaimed after 60 days is forfeited)
Interest on depositNot requiredSource: Tenn. Code § 66-28-301(a) (separate account; no interest)
Late feesMax 10% of the amount past dueSource: Tenn. Code § 66-28-201(d)
Landlord entry notice24 hoursSource: Tenn. Code § 66-28-403(e) (24 hours for showings in final 30 days; otherwise reasonable times)
Notice to end month-to-monthLandlord 30 days / Tenant 30 daysSource: Tenn. Code § 66-28-512(b)
Required disclosuresLead-Based Paint Disclosure (pre-1978 housing); Owner and Agent Identification; Right to Show Premises; Deposit Inspection RightsSource: Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Tenn. Code § 66-28-101 et seq. (counties over 75,000 population)

Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Statutes change; verify before relying on them.

How to use this Residential Lease Agreement in Tennessee

A residential lease in Tennessee should identify every adult tenant, describe the premises, state the term, the rent and how it is paid, the security deposit and how it will be returned, who pays which utilities, the rules on pets, smoking and subletting, and the disclosures Tennessee law requires. This generator walks you through each of those items in order, checks the deposit and late fee against Tennessee's statutory caps, and drafts the clauses for you.

Before you start, gather: the legal names and mailing addresses of the landlord and all tenants, the property address and the number of units in the building, the move-in date, the rent amount and due day, the deposit amount and the bank where it will be held (some states require this), whether the building was built before 1978 (federal lead-paint rule), and the answers to your state's disclosure questions (for example whether the property is in a FEMA flood zone — check msc.fema.gov).

After you preview the document, download the PDF, have every adult tenant and the landlord sign (electronic signatures are valid), give each party a copy together with every attachment listed at the end of the lease, and complete a move-in inspection checklist with photos. Keep the signed lease for at least four years after the tenancy ends.

Frequently asked questions

How much security deposit can a landlord charge in Tennessee?

Tennessee has no statutory cap on security deposits (No statutory limit); the amount must be stated in the lease and returned per statute.

When must the deposit be returned in Tennessee?

Within 30 days after the tenant moves out, with an itemized statement of deductions (Tenn. Code § 66-28-301(g)).

Does this lease include the disclosures Tennessee requires?

Yes. The Disclosures section asks you the yes/no questions each Tennessee statute requires (for example flood zone, sprinklers, mold or bed bugs) and prints the actual statutory statement — in bold or larger type where the law demands it — with its citation, plus the federal lead-paint notice for pre-1978 buildings. Forms that must be separate documents are listed as attachments.

Is this lease legally binding once signed?

A written lease signed by landlord and all adult tenants is an enforceable contract in Tennessee. Electronic signatures are valid under the federal ESIGN Act and the state UETA. No notarization is required for a residential lease.

Can I use this for a month-to-month rental?

Yes — choose 'Month-to-month' in the Term step. The tenant's notice period is set to Tennessee's statutory minimum, and the landlord's notice period follows Tenn. Code § 66-28-512(b).

Other names

  • rental agreement
  • residential tenancy agreement
  • apartment lease
  • house rental contract
  • tenancy agreement
  • lease contract
  • rental contract

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FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.