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Landlord Retaliation Laws in Tennessee

Tennessee's landlord tenant act bars a landlord from raising rent, cutting services or bringing or threatening eviction in retaliation for repair complaints or using the act's remedies, but it applies only in counties over 75,000 people; there is no presumption period.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Tennessee at a glance

Retaliation banned by statute
Yes, in covered counties
The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies only in counties with a population over 75,000 (2010 census).
Presumption period
No presumption period
Tenn. Code 66-28-514 sets no time-based presumption.
Protected tenant actions
Complaints to landlord, using remedies under the act
Covers complaints to the landlord about duties under 66-28-301 and use of remedies under the act.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Tennessee

Does Tennessee law prohibit landlord retaliation against tenants?

Yes, in covered counties. Retaliation banned by statute in Tennessee: yes, in covered counties. The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies only in counties with a population over 75,000 (2010 census).

How long after a tenant complaint is retaliation presumed in Tennessee?

Presumption period in Tennessee: No presumption period. Tenn. Code 66-28-514 sets no time-based presumption.

Which tenant actions are protected from retaliation in Tennessee?

Protected tenant actions in Tennessee: Complaints to landlord, using remedies under the act. Covers complaints to the landlord about duties under 66-28-301 and use of remedies under the act.

Where do the Tennessee landlord retaliation laws come from?

The rules above come from Tenn. Code 66-28-514 and Tenn. Code 66-28-102. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

What this means in practice

Keep a written record of every complaint, repair request and report to a government agency, with dates. A presumption period usually runs from the date of the protected action, so proof of that date can matter.

Retaliation protection does not usually excuse unpaid rent or lease violations. Statutes commonly allow a landlord to raise rent, end a tenancy or evict for a good-faith reason, such as nonpayment, damage to the unit or a rent increase applied to all tenants.

If a rent increase, service cut or eviction notice follows a complaint, read the statute for your state and any local ordinance. Cities and counties may add protections, and a local legal aid office or tenant union can explain how they apply.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.