Tennessee Department of Health, If You Rent a Place, Know Your Legal Rights and Duties

What if the problems were your fault or your
visitor’s fault? You may have to pay for the
repairs. You can’t use your rent money to pay for
repairs that are your fault. You have to pay for
both your rent and repairs. What the landlord
can’t do to make you
move out
Your landlord can tow your car,
The landlord can’t change the locks to make you
truck, trailer, motorcycle, bicycle, leave! He can’t change the locks even if you are
etc. behind on rent. He can’t change the locks even if
you broke the lease. This is against the law.

The landlord can’t set your things out on the
street until after the sheriff comes.
1. A landlord can have you towed with no
warning if: The landlord can’t shut off lights, water or gas to
• A sign has rules for parking and you don’t make you leave! He can’t shut off lights, water or
follow the rules OR gas even if you are behind on rent. He can’t shut
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off lights, water or gas even if you broke the lease. warning. If you pay rent monthly, the landlord
This is almost always against the law. must give you a 14 day warning. If you don’t
move by then, the landlord can take you to court.
Can the landlord ever cut off lights, water or gas?
Yes, if you move out or if: What if you tell the landlord you don’t want
written warning? OR your lease says you “waive
• The lease says you will put the utilities in written notice”? Then he can take you to court
your name, AND without warning if you are behind on rent.
• You don’t do it during the first 3 days
after moving in.