Start a comprehensive and legally binding Tennessee lease agreement to rent real estate you own to one or more tenants. Get guidance on each step and expert tips with the help of our contract maker.
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Table of Contents:A lease agreement is a legally binding contract between a landlord and a tenant. This is written to conform to state laws where the property is located. In Tennessee these allow both parties to comply with a series of set terms for a specified number of months or years.
Rental contracts and lease agreements have a lot of similarities as they both set out payment plans and the terms of use for a house or apartment. However, the big difference is the duration that they cover. Rental agreements usually only cover short-term tenancies of a few months at a time or month-to-month contracts.
A lease agreement should contain the following details:
There are many types of TN lease agreement forms that can be used to manage and legally bind many different types of rental situations. They allow landlords to rent out various types of property they might have and for tenants to find the best kind of tenancy for their needs.
The most common types of lease agreements in Tennessee include:
Tennessee lease agreements must contain a few disclosures and addendums when they are completed and signed. This is to properly inform the tenant of any health risks or potential issues with the property or details about how the property is managed that they must be aware of.
These essential addendums include the following:
A Tennessee lease agreement must be written and signed within the laws of Tennessee state, otherwise, it will be legally contestable and can be declared invalid and block either party from recourse if a violation is committed. These will police how you start and end the contract and control what procedures you can reasonably ask a tenant to follow.
The most important laws to consider when you are renting a property in Tennessee include:
Besides lease agreements, there are various other legal documents that are commonly used by landlords. If you are the owner of a rental property, one of the following forms may be helpful for you:
Before beginning the process of creating a residential lease agreement in Tennessee it is sensible to review an example document first. Use our TN lease agreement sample below to find out more about the structure and contents of a fully-fledged rental contract.
It is important to carefully prepare a TN lease agreement to suit the needs of the landlord and tenant exactly. To help demystify the process a little simply review our FAQs below to learn more about the specificities of rental contracts in Tennessee.
There is a key difference between a Tennessee lease agreement and a Tennessee rental agreement, which is the length of duration that they each cover.
Lease agreements are normally longer-term arrangements that can last several months or even years, in which their terms remain fixed. Rental agreements on the other hand are shorter-term in nature but are more flexible and may be changed on a weekly or monthly basis.
It’s important to have a written TN lease agreement in operation whether you are a landlord or a tenant. There are many advantages to having a formal contract for a rental property such as the right to recourse if the terms are violated and the protection of important legal rights for rental property owners and residents.
Usually, a Tennessee lease agreement cannot be changed once it is signed. Its terms will remain fixed until it reaches its agreed expiration date or it is terminated due to a violation by either party.
With a rental agreement or month-by-month tenancy, however, the terms of the agreement can potentially be changed each rental period. This means the landlord can amend or end the terms of the contract every 30 days if they wish.
You are only a few steps away from your own Tennessee Lease Agreement !
Download our professional examplesThis Lease Agreement (hereinafter, the "Lease Agreement") is dated as of _________ (hereinafter, the "Effective Date") and is entered into by and between _________ (hereinafter, the "Landlord") and the following residents:
_________
(hereinafter, the "Tenant(s)").
The Landlord and the Tenant(s) agree as follows:
1. PROPERTY
(a) The Landlord is the owner of certain real property and improvements described as a house located at _________, _________, Tennessee, _________ (hereinafter, the "Property").
(b) The Landlord rents to the Tenant(s) and the Tenant(s) rents from the Landlord the Property according to the terms and conditions described in this Lease Agreement.
(c) Unless otherwise indicated in the Lease Agreement, no other portion of the building (hereinafter, the "Building") is included in the Lease.
(d) Unless otherwise indicated in the Lease Agreement, the Property is for the sole use as a personal residence by the person(s) named above only.
2. OCCUPANTS
(a) During the term of this Lease Agreement, the only individuals permitted to reside on the Property are the following:
(b) The Tenant(s) may not allow any guest to stay on the Property longer than _________ consecutive day(s) or _________ day(s) in a calendar year. The Tenant(s)'s guests shall not be considered original occupants of the Property under any circumstances.
(c) The amount of time the Tenant(s)'s guests may stay on the Property may never be longer than the time permitted by any owners' association rule or restrictive covenant or _________ consecutive day(s) or _________ day(s) in a calendar year, without the Landlord's written permission, whichever is less.
3. TERM
The term of this Lease Agreement begins on _________ (hereinafter, the "Commencement Date") and will terminate on _________ (hereinafter, the "Termination Date"). Upon the Termination Date, the Tenant(s) shall be required to vacate the Property.
4. MANAGEMENT
The Tenant(s) is hereby notified that the Owner or Landlord _________ is the Property Manager in charge of repairs or maintenance of the Property.
If the Tenant(s) has any complaint regarding any issue about the Property, _________ shall be contacted by one of the following methods:
Address: _________
Telephone: _________
Email: _________
5. RENT
The Tenant(s) shall pay the Landlord monthly rent in the amount of $_________ (hereinafter, the "Rent") for each full month during this lease. The full month's rent is due and payable not later than the 1st of each month lease period.
Place of Payment:
The Tenant(s) shall remit all Rent payment amounts owed to the Landlord under this Lease Agreement to the following address:
The Landlord may later change the person and place to which the Tenant(s) must remit the rental amounts due under this Lease Agreement.
Method of Payment:
The Tenant(s) shall pay all rent by selecting any of the following forms of payment (select one or more):
6. UTILITIES AND SERVICES
The Tenant(s) shall pay for all utilities, services, and charges provided to the Property, including any and all deposits required.
Notwithstanding the aforementioned, the Landlord agrees to be responsible for the following utilities and services in connection with the Property:
7. PETS / STRAYS
No animal or pet shall be kept, permanently or temporarily, on or about the Property, even temporarily or with a visiting guest. As provided by law, a Service Animal(s) is not considered a pet, and every individual with a disability shall have a right to have a Service Animal(s) on the Property.
Any animal discovered on or around the Property will be considered a stray. Strays shall not be kept or fed in or about the Property. All strays will be reported to the proper authorities and removed at the Tenant(s)'s expense.
8. SMOKING
Smoking is not allowed in or on any area of the Property, including individual units and common areas, both indoors and outdoors. This policy applies to all owners, tenants, or guests.
If the Tenant(s) contravenes this provision by smoking tobacco or allowing guests to smoke in any place on the property, then such Tenant(s) shall be held liable for any damages caused to the Property. Moreover, the violation of this provision shall be considered a just cause for the eviction of the Tenant(s) by the Landlord.
9. MAINTENANCE
The Landlord may require in writing that the Tenant(s) pay all future Rent payments by cash, money order, cashier's check, or any other type of certified fund.
The parties agree that three (3) returned checks in any twelve (12) month period constitutes a frequent return of checks due to insufficient funds and shall be considered a just cause for eviction.
Additionally, during the Term of this Lease Agreement and any renewal thereof, Tenant(s) shall:
(1) Keep the Property clean and safe, use all electrical, plumbing, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning facilities and appliances in a reasonable manner.
(2) Repair any damage arising from the act or negligence of Tenant, Occupants, or guests, agents, visitors, and invitees, at tenant's expense.
(3) Surrender the Property in as good order and condition as when received, reasonable wear and tear excepted, upon the termination of this Lease Agreement.
(4) Immediately notify the Landlord, in writing, of any problem, malfunction or damage; otherwise, the Tenant(s) will be liable for the costs of any such damage, which might have been avoided had the Tenant promptly notified the Landlord of the defect.
10. ALTERATIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS
The Tenant(s) shall not make any alterations, additions, redecorations, or any sort of improvements on the leased Property without the Landlord's prior written consent. All additions, alterations, fixtures, or improvements made by the Tenant(s), except movable household furniture, shall become the Landlord's property and remain on the Property as part of the Property and shall be surrendered with the leased premises at the Termination of this Lease Agreement.
11. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
The Tenant(s) shall not keep or have on the Property any article or item of a dangerous, flammable, or explosive material on the Property that might unreasonably increase the danger of fire or explosion on the Property or that might be considered hazardous or extra hazardous by any responsible insurance company.
12. LANDLORD ACCESS TO PROPERTY
The Landlord and the Landlord's agents shall have the right at all reasonable times, and by all reasonable means during the term of this Lease Agreement and any renewal thereof, to enter the Property for the following purposes:
| (i) | Survey the Property's condition and take photographs to document the condition. |
| (ii) | Make repairs or improvements to the Property. |
| (iii) | Supply agreed services. |
| (iv) | Show the Property to prospective buyers or tenants. |
| (v) | Exercise a contractual or statutory lien. |
| (vi) | Leave a written notice. |
| (vii) | Seize nonexempt property if the Tenant(s) is in default. |
Except in case of emergency, the Landlord will give the Tenant(s) reasonable notice of intent to enter. For these purposes, twenty-four (24) hour written notice will be deemed reasonable.
13. ASSIGNMENT / SUBLETTING
The Tenant(s) acknowledges that this Lease Agreement is not transferable and that the Tenant(s) may not assign or sublet this Lease Agreement, grant any license to use the Property or any interest in the Property or any part thereof, nor mortgage or pledge this Lease Agreement.
The Tenant(s) shall not contravene this provision, unless the Landlord expressly waivers this prohibition in writing, the consent of which the Landlord may, in any case, withhold in its sole and absolute discretion.
14. NOTICES
Notice under this Lease Agreement will be given in accordance with the applicable statute. All other notices shall be deemed sufficient if made as follows:
1) All notices to the Landlord shall be directed by personal delivery or first-class mail to the Landlord at the appropriate address set forth below, until the Tenant(s) is notified, in writing, to the contrary.
2) All notices to the Tenant(s) shall be directed by personal delivery or first-class mail to the Tenant(s) at the Leased Property or any forwarding address provided in writing by the Tenant(s) to the Landlord.
Landlord:
Tenant:
_________
_________, _________, Tennessee _________
Such addresses may be changed from time to time by any party by providing notice as set forth above.
15. VENUE AND GOVERNING LAW
The exclusive venue is in the county where the Property is located. This Lease Agreement shall be governed, construed, and interpreted by the Laws of the State of Tennessee.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Landlord and Tenant have executed this Agreement in the manner prescribed by law as of the Effective Date.
Landlord:
By: ___________________________ Date: __________________
_________
Tenant:
By: ___________________________ Date: __________________
_________
Address: _________, _________, Tennessee _________
The Tenant(s) has inspected the Property and states that the Property is in satisfactory condition, free of defects, except as noted below:
| SATISFACTORY | COMMENTS | |
| Bathrooms | _________ | _________________________ |
| Carpeting | _________ | _________________________ |
| Ceilings | _________ | _________________________ |
| Closets | _________ | _________________________ |
| Countertops | _________ | _________________________ |
| Dishwasher | _________ | _________________________ |
| Disposal | _________ | _________________________ |
| Doors | _________ | _________________________ |
| Fireplace | _________ | _________________________ |
| Lights | _________ | _________________________ |
| Locks | _________ | _________________________ |
| Refrigerator | _________ | _________________________ |
| Screens | _________ | _________________________ |
| Stove | _________ | _________________________ |
| Walls | _________ | _________________________ |
| Windows | _________ | _________________________ |
| Window coverings | _________ | _________________________ |
| _________ | _________ | _________________________ |
| _________ | _________ | _________________________ |
Tenant:
By: ___________________________ Date: __________________
_________
Acknowledged by Landlord:
By: ___________________________ Date: __________________
_________
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