A Tennessee rental application is a document landlords use to screen and vet potential tenants to determine whether they are reliable and able to pay rent promptly. A standard application allows a landlord to filter for red flags before offering a lease agreement.
Laws
- Application Fee – Non-refundable.
- Fee Limits – No limits.
- Security Deposit – No maximum amount for a security deposit is specified in the statutes.
Application Fee
- You can charge an application fee. State law does not limit the amount, but you should keep it reasonable to not price yourself out of applicants. Most experts recommend charging what it will cost to process the application and run a background check.
Fair Housing Protections
Tennessee law prohibits discrimination in housing based on color, race, religion, creed, sex, disability, national origin, or familial status. Specifically, it is illegal to: [1]
- Refuse to rent property.
- Discriminate in terms, conditions, or services related to a rental.
- Lie about a property being unavailable.
- Advertise property in a discriminatory manner.
A landlord may not participate in the following activities specifically related to disabled individuals:
- Deny housing or make it unavailable.
- Refuse reasonable accommodations or modifications.
Furthermore, threats, intimidation, coercion, or interference with someone’s housing rights are disallowed.
Security Deposit Limits
- Maximum Amount: Tennessee has no maximum security deposit amount limit, but landlords must also use discretion.
- Handling: The landlord must keep the tenant’s security deposit in an account that’s only used for that purpose. [2]
- Inspection: Tenants can inspect the property for damages that may affect their security deposit. They must attend this inspection either within five days of the tenant issuing a notice to vacate or upon the landlord’s request to leave the property. The tenant will waive the right to challenge damages that the landlord finds if they don’t attend this inspection. [3]
- Return: The tenant must receive the returned deposit from the landlord within 30 days after the tenant leaves the property. If the landlord keeps any of it, they must provide an itemized list of deductions. [4]
Pet Deposits
There’s no reference regarding pet deposits, so a landlord can charge however much they’d like.
Sample
