A Tennessee 14 Day Notice To Comply or Vacate is a letter which complies with state legal requirements to begin eviction against a tenant for substantially damaging the rental property (beyond normal wear and tear), in places NOT governed by the state Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA). The tenant must take appropriate corrective action or move out within fourteen (14) calendar days of receiving notice.
When To Use a Tennessee 14 Day Notice To Comply or Vacate
A Tennessee 14-Day Notice To Comply or Vacate begins the eviction process in non-URLTA locations, when the tenant substantially damages the rental property (beyond normal wear and tear).
Some types of Tennessee lease termination notice may allow different reasons for termination, or different notice periods. This may also apply to an eviction notice issued because of a lease or legal violation.
How To Write a Tennessee 14 Day Notice To Comply or Vacate
To help ensure the legal compliance of a Notice To Comply or Vacate:
- Use the full name of the receiving party, and address of record, if known
- Specify the termination date of the lease or tenancy
- Specify the basis for terminating the tenancy, and the corrective action(s) required to avoid termination
- Fill in the full address of the rental premises
- Provide updated/current address and phone number information
- Print name and sign the notice
- Complete the certificate of service by indicating the date and method of notice delivery, along with printed name and signature
It is easy to lose an otherwise justified legal action because of improper notice. Check carefully to ensure enough time after notice is delivered, not when it’s sent.
How To Serve a Tennessee 14 Day Notice To Comply or Vacate
Tennessee landlords in a non-URLTA county do not have strict legal requirements for delivery of notice. In general, however, courts will expect similar standards as those which apply in URLTA jurisdictions:
- Hand delivery to the tenant
- Delivery by mail
Delivery of notice usually must be to the tenant’s last known address, or address of record.
URLTA versus Non-URLTA Counties in Tennessee
In Tennessee, depending on the county the property is located in, landlords and tenants are governed by one or both of the following sets of laws:
- Tennessee Property Code Chapter 7 – applies in ALL Tennessee counties
- Tennessee Property Code Chapter 28 – also called the Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant Act (URLTA), only applies in Tennessee counties with a population over 75,000 (as of 2010 Census data)
URLTA laws apply in addition to Chapter 7. Some laws in Chapter 7 do not apply to URLTA counties, and some URLTA laws override the basic Chapter 7 protections.
Tennesee’s URLTA applies in these counties:*:
- Anderson
- Blount
- Bradley
- Davidson
- Greene
- Hamilton
- Knox
- Madison
- Maury
- Montgomery
- Rutherford
- Sevier
- Shelby
- Sullivan
- Sumner
- Washington
- Williamson
- Wilson
* This list is subject to change in the future based on federal census data collected every ten years.
Sources
- 1 TN Code § 66-7-109
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- Except as provided in this section, fourteen (14) days’ notice by a landlord shall be sufficient notice of termination of tenancy for the purpose of eviction of a residential tenant, if the termination of tenancy is for the following reason:
- Damage beyond normal wear and tear to the premises by the tenant, members of the household, or guests; or
- If the notice of termination of tenancy is given for one of the reasons set out above and the breach is remediable by repairs or the payment of rent or damages or otherwise and the tenant adequately remedies the breach prior to the date specified in the notice from the landlord, the rental agreement will not terminate
- Except as provided in this section, fourteen (14) days’ notice by a landlord shall be sufficient notice of termination of tenancy for the purpose of eviction of a residential tenant, if the termination of tenancy is for the following reason:
- 2 Tenn. Code § 66-28-106
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Source Link
(a) Either party has notice of a fact if such person:
(1) Has actual knowledge of it; or (2) Has been given written notice. (b) All parties must give written notice to the last known or designated address contained in the lease agreement. - 3 TN Code § 66-28-102
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Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act: This chapter applies only in counties having a population of more than seventy-five thousand (75,000), according to the 2010 federal census or any subsequent federal census.
Source Link - 4 TN Code § 66-7-109
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Nothing in this section, Chapter 7, shall apply to rental property located in any county governed by the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant.
Source Link - 5 Tennessee Legal Services - Help for Renters
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What is the Uniform Residential Landlord-Tenant Act (URLTA)?
URLTA, sometimes called the Landlord-Tenant Act, is a law that places additional responsibilities on landlords in urban counties. These Responsibilities include providing safe and healthy rentals to their tenants.
Source LinkWhich counties does URLTA apply to?
URLTA applies to counties in Tennessee that have a population of more than 75,000 residents. Currently, the only counties covered by URLTA are Anderson, Blount, Bradley, Davidson, Hamilton, Knox, Madison, Maury, Montgomery, Rutherford, Sevier, Shelby, Sullivan, Sumner, Washington, Williamson, and Wilson.