Tennessee Housing Resources & Tenant Rights

Tennessee’s tenant protections depend on where you live. The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA, TCA 66-28) applies only in counties with a population of 75,000 or more — which includes Memphis (Shelby), Nashville (Davidson), Knoxville, and Chattanooga — while smaller counties follow general state law with fewer protections. There is no rent control (TCA 66-35-102 preempts it) and no statewide source-of-income protection. The Tennessee Housing Development Agency (THDA) is the state housing agency. This page covers the statewide rules, what changes where URLTA applies, the eviction timeline, and links to every Tennessee city we cover.

Public Housing & Vouchers in Tennessee

Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers and public housing are run by local authorities — the Memphis Housing Authority, the Metropolitan Development and Housing Agency (Nashville), the Knoxville and Chattanooga authorities, and others. THDA administers vouchers in many counties and allocates Low-Income Housing Tax Credits — search HUD’s LIHTC database or read how to find LIHTC housing.

Apply to several authorities at once. Use HUD’s PHA directory or our how to find your PHA and how to apply for Section 8 guides. City waitlist status is on the city pages below.

Does URLTA Apply to You?

Check this first. The URLTA only governs your tenancy if your county has 75,000 or more residents. That covers the big metros — Memphis (Shelby), Nashville (Davidson), Knoxville (Knox), Chattanooga (Hamilton), and several others — where you get:

• A 14-day notice to pay or quit for nonpayment, and a 14-day notice (with a chance to cure where the problem is fixable) for many lease violations (TCA 66-28-505)
• Security-deposit protections — the deposit must be held in a separate insured Tennessee account and accounted for (TCA 66-28-301)
• An implied warranty of habitability and protections against retaliation

In smaller counties, your lease and general state law control, with fewer built-in protections — so read your lease carefully and confirm your county’s status.

Rent Control & Source of Income

There is no rent control in Tennessee — TCA 66-35-102 preempts cities and counties from adopting it, so no local rent cap is possible. Tennessee also has no statewide source-of-income protection, so a landlord may decline a Housing Choice Voucher. Federal fair-housing rules still bar discrimination based on race, disability, familial status, and other protected traits. Read our source-of-income protections guide.

Emergency Rental Assistance in Tennessee

• Dial 211 to reach local emergency rental and prevention funds and your regional Coordinated Entry for shelter and rapid re-housing
• Community Action Agencies administer crisis help and the LIHEAP energy-assistance program through THDA — see utility assistance programs
• The pandemic-era statewide rent relief has ended; check 211 and THDA for what is currently open
• The Salvation Army, Catholic Charities, and local nonprofits provide one-time help across the state

See our emergency rental assistance guide for the national picture.

Tennessee Tenant Law: Key Protections at a Glance

Security deposits

Tennessee sets no cap on the deposit amount. In URLTA counties, TCA 66-28-301 requires the landlord to hold your deposit in a separate, federally insured Tennessee bank account and to tell you in writing where it is held; at move-out you have the right to be present for an inspection, and the landlord must provide an itemized accounting before keeping any of it. See how to recover your security deposit.

Eviction process & how long it takes

Self-help eviction — lockouts, removing belongings, shutting off utilities — is illegal, and the landlord must go to court. The sequence (in URLTA counties):

• 14-day notice to pay or quit for nonpayment, or a 14-day notice for a lease violation
• Detainer warrant filed in General Sessions court; you are served and given a court date
• Hearing — appear and raise defenses; check the court for local answer forms and file by the deadline
• Writ of possession: if the landlord wins, the court issues the writ and the sheriff carries out the eviction (there is a short window to appeal)

An uncontested Tennessee eviction commonly runs about three to six weeks from the notice. Appear at your hearing with your lease, receipts, and photos. Get help at HELP4TN.org (1-844-435-7486) and read how to avoid eviction.

Other Housing Programs in Tennessee

• Public housing — government-owned affordable apartments run by local authorities; the waitlist is separate from Section 8
• HUD-VASH (veterans) — a voucher paired with VA case management; see how to apply for HUD-VASH
• Emergency Housing Vouchers & rapid re-housing — access through Coordinated Entry by calling 211
• Eviction prevention — our eviction prevention hub explains what to do before your court date

Major Tennessee Cities We Cover

• Memphis affordable housing resources
• Nashville affordable housing resources

Where to Get Help in Tennessee

Free legal aid: HELP4TN.org (1-844-435-7486) connects you to the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee, Memphis Area Legal Services, and Legal Aid of East Tennessee.

State housing agency: THDA ((615) 815-2200) for vouchers, LIHTC, and programs.

Find your local PHA: HUD’s PHA directory or our how to find your PHA guide.

211 helpline: dial 2-1-1 or visit 211.org for rental help, shelters, and utility assistance.

HUD fair housing: file at hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination or call 1-800-669-9777.

Next Steps

Not sure where to start? Our Where to Start tool routes you to the right mix of Tennessee programs in about two minutes.

First, check whether your county (75,000+) is covered by URLTA — it determines your rights. If you have a notice, get help at HELP4TN.org and read eviction prevention.