Tennessee rental housing laws

What it would do: Authorizes municipalities to require real estate investment trusts owning, operating, or financing 10 or more dwelling units to register with the local building code enforcement agency, providing the REIT's contact information and unit addresses, with $50 per week fines for non-compliance.

What it would do: Makes records of unlawful detainer actions confidential and shielded from public inspection if filed on or after July 1, 2026, dismissed, no appeal pending, and either three years have passed since filing or all parties agree in writing to shield records.

What it would do: Prohibits housing providers from discriminating based on criminal history, except they may consider misdemeanor convictions within 3 years and felony convictions within 10 years if an individualized assessment shows direct safety risk. Sex offense convictions may be considered without time limits. Requires written notice and establishes enforcement procedures.

What it would do: Allows local governments to adopt ordinances controlling rent for private residential rental units by two-thirds vote and establishes a local rent agency to administer such controls. Creates the increased housing program and revolving fund administered by the Tennessee housing development agency to provide gap financing to developers and down payment assistance grants to first-time homebuyers.

What it would do: Prohibits persons from knowingly or recklessly facilitating agreements between residential rental property owners or managers to not compete using software or algorithmic devices that collect pricing data from multiple owners and recommend rental prices, lease terms, or occupancy levels. Prohibits owners or managers from knowingly or recklessly setting prices based on such recommendations. Effective July 1, 2026.

What it would do: Requires corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and limited liability partnerships that purchase or acquire residential rental property in Tennessee to register with the secretary of state by the later of January 1, 2027 or within 60 days of purchase, with civil penalties up to $2,000 for violations.

What it would do: Authorizes municipalities to create and enforce rental property registries requiring owners of residential rental dwelling units to register annually, with exemptions for owner-occupied units renting fewer than two units and government-owned properties. Requires municipalities adopting registries to submit annual reports to the department of economic and community development.

What it would do: Amends the definition of 'residential property' for property tax classification to include property that can be sold and purchased as a single unit fee simple title, regardless of whether it is vacant, owner-occupied, rented, or detached or attached, while maintaining the limit of not more than one rental unit.

What it would do: Allows landlords of properties with five or more dwelling units to submit a single registration form for the entire property if all required information is identical across units. Permits local governments to require residential landlord registration by ordinance or resolution, with fees not exceeding specified amounts.

What it would do: Reduces the notice period landlords must give tenants before terminating a rental agreement for nonpayment of rent or violent behavior from 14 days to 7 days, while maintaining 14 days' notice for damage beyond normal wear and tear. Effective July 1, 2025 for new or amended rental agreements.

What it would do: Requires trials for unlawful detainer actions based solely on nonpayment of rent be held no later than 14 days from filing; limits hearing scope to facts related to nonpayment of rent; requires writs of possession issue within 24 hours and allows immediate removal if defendant fails to vacate within 7 days.

What it would do: Increases from 30 to 45 days the period a tenant and landlord have to agree on a termination date for a residential rental agreement when the tenant provides written notice and documentation of being a domestic abuse, sexual assault, or stalking victim.

What it would do: Changes the notice period for a landlord to terminate a rental agreement from three days to three business days after written notice is received by a tenant for specified violations including violent acts, dangerous behavior, hazardous conditions, or unauthorized occupancy.