Tennessee Eviction Notice Forms | 14 Day Notice for NonPayment
- Note: There is a five (5) day grace period for late rent
Download the Tennessee eviction notice templates to legally repossess property from a tenant that has broken their lease. Most commonly the reason is because of non-payment of rent, but may be for any condition that is broken in the terms of the original lease agreement. If either landlord or tenant has questions about their rights they should review the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act.
1. Notice
Before filing an eviction lawsuit, the landlord must provide the tenant with written notice stating that the landlord will file an eviction if the tenant does not comply with the lease. For most counties in Tennessee, the notice must give the tenant 14 days to pay rent or correct a lease violation, if that is the reason for the potential eviction, and the notice should state that the lease will end in 30 days if the violation is not corrected. In other counties, property owners can provide notices that terminate the lease in 14 days as well.
In cases where the tenant commits egregious property damage or violence, landlords may be able to give three-day notices to expedite the eviction.
If you have a tenant that is on a month to month rental arrangement, you will need to grant them 30 days notice to vacate the premises.
2. Filing the Eviction
Next, the tenant can file an Eviction Complaint in the court where the property is located if the tenant does not comply with the notice or leave the premises. The hearing will be scheduled between 10 to 30 days from the date of filing. The owner must serve these papers to the tenant personally or by hiring a process server.
3. Court Hearing
At the hearing, either party may hire an attorney to represent them and argue their case. To win, the property owner must prove that the tenant failed to pay rent or committed another lease violation, such as allowing unauthorized persons on the premises. Likewise, the tenant may present defenses, such as that the landlord’s accusations are false, or that the landlord failed to comply with safety housing codes. Each party should bring relevant evidence such as documents like the lease and receipts, as well as photos or witnesses.
If the tenant does not appear, the landlord will win the eviction by default. If the landlord wins, the tenant has 10 days to file an appeal to the decision. The tenant has to pay a bond to continue the appeal as well. After the 10 days have expired, the landlord can file a Writ of Possession, which states that the landlord now has the right to possess the property. This gives the tenant two to three days to vacate, after which time the sheriff will physically remove the tenant and all of the tenant’s property.
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