Landlord kept your deposit? Entered without notice? Threatening eviction? Describe what happened in your own words and get a plain-English breakdown, severity rating, step-by-step next steps, and ready-to-send letters — specific to Tennessee law.
Get My Tennessee Action Plan — Free to StartTennessee landlords must return the deposit within 30 days when the tenant provides a written forwarding address, but get up to 60 days if the tenant is silent about a refund (Tenn. Code § 66-28-301); deposits must be kept in a separate bank account, and late fees cannot exceed 10% of the unpaid amount and cannot be charged until rent is 5 or more days late. Landlords must give reasonable advance notice of entry, generally interpreted as 24 hours. Self-help evictions are illegal in Tennessee.
30 days after move-out, with an itemized statement for any deductions.
Landlords must generally give 24-hour notice before entering, except in emergencies.
No. Eviction requires a court process — lockouts, belongings removal, and utility shutoffs without a court order are illegal.
Legal Aid of East Tennessee at (865) 637-0484. You can also call or text 211 for local referrals.