Understanding Eviction Notices in Tennessee
Before an eviction can go to court in Tennessee, landlords must first give tenants written notice. Depending on the issue at hand, such as unpaid rent or lease violations, the amount of notice will differ.
Our document editor helps you prepare a proper Tennessee eviction notice quickly and easily. Download it in PDF or Word format.
Types of Eviction Notices in Tennessee
Tennessee distinguishes eviction notice requirements based on the type of infraction and population size, with specific timelines laid out by law.
7-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
This form notifies a tenant that they’ve failed to make timely rent payments twice within six months. It states the infraction isn’t remediable, so a tenant must move out within the 7-day period per TN Code § 66-28-505(a)(2)(B).
This notice and the 7-day timeframe only apply to tenants living in counties governed by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA).
7-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Payment of Rent
Give tenants seven days to pay rent if you've sent a similar notice for non-payment of rent in the preceding six months.
14-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
If it’s the tenant’s first time failing to pay rent, you can deliver a 14-day notice. It warns them that they will have 14 days to submit their payment or face eviction.
For both the 7-day and 14-day notice periods, tenants have a five-day grace period under TN Code § 66-28-201(d).
14-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Give tenants 14 days to pay rent if you haven't sent a similar notice for non-payment of rent in the preceding six months.
7-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance
Issue this notice to a tenant to specify the tenant’s second lease violation in a six-month period. It states that a tenant must vacate the property within seven days under TN Code § 66-28-505(a)(2)(B) due to their infractions. The tenant won’t have the chance to address their offense.
This notice is only applicable in counties of more than 75,000 people under the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA).
7-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance
Begin evicting a tenant if they’ve committed a second lease violation within six months (applies to counties with a population of more than 75,000 people).
14-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance
Send this notice to a tenant who’s violated a lease term. Under this notice and Tenn. Code § 66-7-109(a)(1)(A), the tenant has 14 days to correct the breach or vacate the premises.
This notice is only applicable in counties not under the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), so landlords only use it for tenants living in counties with populations of less than 75,000 people.
14-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance
Begin evicting a tenant if they’ve broken the terms of your lease with 14 days notice (applies to counties with a population of less than 75,000 people).
30-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance
This notice is for landlords to issue to tenants in rural counties with less than 75,000 people. It applies to counties outside the Uniform Residential Landlord-Tenant’s Act jurisdiction, and it alerts tenants of non-severe breaches unrelated to property damage and non-payment of rent.
If the tenant doesn’t comply with the 30-day notice period outlined in TN Code § 66-7-109(b) or respond with a rebuttal, the landlord can proceed with the formal eviction process.
30-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance
Give tenants 30 days’ notice before the eviction process can proceed in court for non-severe violations (applies to counties with less than 75,000 people).
10-Day Notice Lease Termination
Use this notice to end an at-will week-to-week tenancy. Within this notice, you should list a termination date that’s at least 10 days in advance (per Tenn. Code § 66-28-512), giving the tenant time to prepare.
If the tenant doesn’t respect this notice and remains on the property after the 10 days have passed, the landlord can begin the formal eviction process. This document only applies to URLTA locations. In non-URLTA locations, a landlord or tenant may serve a 30-day notice to vacate to terminate a week-to-week lease.
10-Day Notice Lease Termination
Let a tenant know you’re ending a week-to-week lease.
30-Day Notice Lease Termination
This notice lets you inform a tenant that a month-to-month tenancy is ending. It gives the tenant a warning that they have 30 days to vacate the property under Tenn. Code § 66-28-512.
If the tenant remains on the property for longer than 30 days after receiving this notice, the landlord can initiate formal eviction proceedings against them to reclaim their property.
30-Day Notice Lease Termination
Let a tenant know you’re ending a month-to-month lease.
How to Evict a Tenant in Tennessee
Learn how to evict a tenant in Tennessee so you can regain control of your property.
Step 1 – Send an Eviction Notice
To start the eviction process, landlords must notify tenants about the lease breach or violation and serve them the appropriate eviction form. Landlords must give the tenants time to cure the violations if applicable (i.e., rent nonpayment).
Use one of our templates above. You may also need to evict a tenant for illegal behavior (which requires a 3-day notice per § 66-28-517) or for prostitution or drug violations (which allow for immediate eviction per § 66-7-107).
Step 2 – Wait for a Response
Allow the tenant time to respond to the eviction notice. They may correct the violation, meaning you don’t have to proceed with the following steps.
Step 3 – File for Eviction
If a tenant does not respond to an eviction notice, landlords can file a Detainer Summons with their local General Sessions Court. Landlords must ensure that the court they visit has jurisdiction over the property. If they do, the court will set a hearing date.
Step 4 – Serve the Summons
Landlords must hire the local sheriff to serve a tenant with a Detainer Warrant; they cannot do it themselves. This warrant will alert them of the eviction lawsuit and the court date.
Step 5 – Appear in Court
Both parties will attend the eviction hearing and present their evidence. The judge will compile all evidence to make a fair, informed decision.
Step 6 – Obtain a Writ of Possession
The court will issue a Writ of Possession if the tenant does not appear or the landlord is proven correct. The landlord may then take possession of the premises with the sheriff if necessary.
Related Tennessee Court Forms
- Detainer Summons: This form is used to summon a tenant to court if they fail to abide by the demands of an eviction notice.
- Writ of Possession: The court issues this form if a landlord is found correct during an eviction lawsuit. It entitles the landlord to reclaim possession of their property.
