Tennessee Residential Lease Agreement

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

Free to fill & preview · $19 for the clean PDF + Word

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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 (pre-1978); Owner/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 2026-09-07. 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 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, 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), and whether the building was built before 1978 (federal lead-paint rule).

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, 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 (Tenn. Code § 66-28-301)); 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) (itemized list to tenant; deposit unclaimed after 60 days is forfeited)).

Does this lease include the disclosures Tennessee requires?

Yes. Section 14 inserts every statutory disclosure for Tennessee (4 items, including the federal lead-paint notice for pre-1978 buildings) with its citation.

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 notice period is set to Tennessee's statutory minimum.

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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.