In Tennessee, rent increase laws for 2025 remain landlord-friendly, with no statewide rent control or caps on how much landlords can raise rent. However, there are specific notice requirements and tenant protections that renters should be aware of. Here’s a breakdown:
Key Points for Rent Increases in Tennessee
- No Rent Control: Tennessee does not impose rent control laws, meaning landlords have full discretion to raise rent amounts as they see fit. Cities and counties are prohibited from implementing local rent control ordinances.
- Notice Requirements:
- Month-to-Month Leases: Landlords must provide at least 30 days’ written notice before implementing a rent increase.
- Fixed-Term Leases: For year-long leases, landlords must give a 60-day notice before the lease renewal period if they intend to increase the rent.
- Written notices are mandatory and must specify the new rental amount and the effective date of the increase.
- During Active Lease Terms: Rent increases cannot occur during an active lease unless explicitly allowed in the lease agreement. This ensures stability for tenants throughout the lease period.
- Tenant Protections:
- Retaliatory Increases Prohibited: Landlords cannot raise rents as retaliation for tenants exercising their legal rights, such as reporting unsafe living conditions.
- Discrimination Banned: Rent increases cannot be based on discriminatory factors such as race, religion, or disability.
- Tenants on month-to-month agreements can reject increases by choosing to vacate within the notice period.
Landlord Responsibilities
Landlords must follow proper procedures when increasing rent:
- Provide adequate written notice within the required timeframe.
- Ensure that rent hikes comply with fair housing laws and are not discriminatory or retaliatory.
- Maintain transparency by clearly stating the new terms in writing.
What Tenants Should Do
- Review lease agreements carefully to understand the terms regarding rent increases.
- Ensure any rent increase notice is provided in writing and complies with state laws.
- If a rent increase seems retaliatory or discriminatory, tenants can seek legal advice or assistance from housing authorities.
Tennessee’s lack of rent control laws provides landlords with significant flexibility but places the burden on tenants to stay informed about their rights and protections under state law.
Sources
- https://www.steadily.com/blog/how-much-can-a-landlord-raise-rent-in-tennessee
- https://www.steadily.com/blog/rent-increase-laws-regulations-memphis-tn
- https://www.hemlane.com/resources/tennessee-rent-control-laws/
- https://www.boloforms.com/signature/contracts/real-estate/notice-of-rent-increase/tennessee/
- https://legaltemplates.net/form/lease-agreement/rent-increase/