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Free Tennessee Rental Application Form - Fill Online, Sign & Download the PDF
Most of Tennessee's tenant protections come from its Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, which only applies in counties with more than 75,000 people, including the metros around Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga. Fill it out below with plain-English help on every field, then sign and download your completed PDF free.
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Tennessee rental application rules to know
- •Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (Title 66, Chapter 28) applies only in counties with more than 75,000 residents, such as Davidson (Nashville), Shelby (Memphis), Knox (Knoxville), Hamilton (Chattanooga), Rutherford, and Williamson. Renters in smaller counties fall under sparser general law with fewer protections.
- •Tennessee sets no statutory cap on rental application or screening fees, and they are typically nonrefundable.
- •There is no cap on security deposit amounts, but under Tenn. Code § 66-28-301 a landlord who takes a deposit must hold all tenant deposits in an account used only for that purpose at a bank or regulated lending institution.
- •You have the right to be present when the landlord inspects for damages at move-out, and the landlord must give you an itemized list of any deductions (Tenn. Code § 66-28-301).
- •If you do not respond to the landlord's deposit notice within 60 days, the landlord may keep the deposit free of your claim, so respond in writing promptly and leave a forwarding address.
- •In URLTA counties, late fees are capped at 10 percent of the overdue rent and can only be charged after a five-day grace period (Tenn. Code § 66-28-201).
- •Tennessee has no statewide source-of-income protection. Memphis passed a local voucher-protection ordinance, but its enforceability is uncertain, so most Tennessee landlords may decline Section 8 vouchers.
- •The Tennessee Human Rights Act bars housing discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, sex, national origin, disability, and familial status. Creed is listed beyond the usual federal categories.
Last reviewed 2026-07-15. General information, not legal advice.
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Frequently asked questions
Do Tennessee's tenant laws apply to my rental?
The detailed URLTA protections apply only in counties with more than 75,000 people, which covers the Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, and Chattanooga metros and other large counties. If you rent in a smaller county, general Tennessee law applies and gives you fewer statutory rights.
Is there a limit on security deposits in Tennessee?
No. Tennessee sets no maximum deposit. In URLTA counties, though, the landlord must keep your deposit in a separate account used only for deposits and give you an itemized list of any deductions.
When do I get my deposit back in Tennessee?
The landlord must give you a written, itemized accounting and let you attend a move-out inspection. Respond in writing within 60 days, because if you do not, the landlord may keep the deposit free of any claim.
Are late fees capped in Tennessee?
In URLTA counties, yes. A late fee cannot exceed 10 percent of the past-due rent and can only be charged after a five-day grace period under Tenn. Code § 66-28-201.
Does this application ask about criminal history?
Yes. Tennessee has no statewide fair-chance housing law and no enforceable metro ordinance limiting criminal-history questions on private rental applications. A landlord still cannot use a blanket ban in a way that creates Fair Housing Act disparate-impact liability.
Can a Tennessee landlord refuse a Section 8 voucher?
In most of the state, yes. Tennessee has no statewide source-of-income protection. Memphis adopted a local voucher-protection ordinance, but its enforceability is unsettled, so do not assume it is binding.
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For landlords: the tenant application form and the rental verification form.