Have you just broken into the world of real estate investing and are looking to understand your legal obligations regarding a tenant's security deposit?
Are you a seasoned landlord just looking to refresh your knowledge about the Tennessee security deposit laws?
As a landlord in Tennessee, you have a variety of legal obligations that you must follow such as the Tennessee landlord-tenant laws. And among the many you need to strictly adhere to are the Tennessee security deposit laws.
So, we at Brentwood Square have put together the following guide to help bring you up to speed with your legal obligations under the state's landlord tenant act regarding Tennessee security deposit laws and security deposits in Tennessee.
Setting a Security Deposit Limit
As per the Tennessee Security Deposit Laws and the building and housing codes, there are no limits as to how much security deposit you can ask from your tenant. However, most landlords are keen not to overcharge their tenants security deposits as doing so, would only make more difficult to rent out their units.
Broadly speaking, a security deposit that is equivalent to one month’s rent on the lease agreement and should be enough to cater for typical financial damages. But again, security deposits in tennessee are not limited.
Storing a Tenant’s Security Deposit
As per Tennessee security deposit saws there is a distinct way in which you must store your tenant’s security deposit. Specifically, these security deposits must be in a separate account, but it does not need to be interest bearing.
Additionally, the account where the security deposits are stored must be in a financial institution that is either subject to federal regulations or the Tennessee state regulations. If you fail to store your tenant’s security deposits according to these requirements, you may forfeit your right to keep any portion.
Receipt of the Security Deposit
Once you receive your tenant’s security deposits, you must notify them of the same via a written notice. In the written notice, you must let your tenant know of the name and address of the banking institution holding their deposit and the details of the separate account.
Deductions to a Deposit
As per Tennessee Security Deposit Laws, you can keep all or part of your tenant’s deposit for certain reasons, such as:
- To cover unpaid rent.
- To cover excessive property damage, that is not normal wear and tear.
- Cover unpaid utility bills once the tenant vacated the property or the lease or rental agreement has ended.
- Other breaches to the lease or rental agreement.
Charging an Additional Pet Deposit
On top of the regular deposit, landlords who accept pets into their property are also allowed to ask for an additional pet deposit under the law governing security deposits.
According to a study by PetFinder, the average pet deposit is anywhere between 40- and 85% of the rent. So, if you are renting out your property for $2,000 a month, then you could charge a pet deposit ranging between $800 and $1700.
But tenants with service animals are exempt from paying such fees under Tennessee's security deposit act. This is because, according to the Fair Housing Act, disabled tenants with service pets deserve equal access to housing. By requiring them to pay that fee, you would be curtailing their right to use and enjoy their home.
The Fair Housing Act is a very important peice of legislation, so if you have any questions regarding it, please contact ourselves at Brentwood Square Management.
Returning a Tenant’s Deposit
In Tennessee, you are only allowed to return the deposit (or whatever remains of it) after you have made the deductions. After that, Tennessee landlords will have anywhere between 30 and 60 days to return it after the tenant’s move out date. This may change during an eviction process, in such a case we would advise contacting a legal professional or property management company.
If a tenant requests to re-evaluate the deductions or claims damages are normal wear and tear, you may need to seek legal assistance as per the landlord tenant laws before returning any deposit owed.
As per the security deposit law, If the tenant does not respond to the refund within the 60 days after notifying them, the tenant loses remaining portion without any liability.
In the absence of a mailing address, as per the landlord tenant laws and Tennessee law, you must exert reasonable effort to find out the tenant’s new address. If a landlord fails to do so, they may face legal recourse.
Sale of Rental Property
In the event you sell the property, you must transfer all deposits, as per the landlord tenant laws and Tennessee law, to the incoming landlord. Next, you must then notify your tenant of the same in a tenant's written notice. When giving proper written notice, you must, at the very least, let them know of the name and address of the new owner.
Last Month’s Rent
As per the states landlord tenant act governing security deposits, the security deposit serves a different purpose than rent. As such, it cannot be applied as last month’s rent. The only exception to this is if there is a written agreement between you and your tenant allowing it.
Walk-Through Inspection
As per Tennessee security deposit laws and the landlord tenant laws, walk-through inspections are mandatory. You must conduct them and make a list of any damages you have come across, during the inspection.
The following are the rules you must abide by when conducting the walk-through inspection or else a tenant can pursue legal action:
- Your tenant has a right to be present during the inspection and you must notify them of your intention to have it. The notification must be sent in either of two scenarios. That is, when serving your tenant, a notice to vacate, or 5 days of receiving their notice to move out.
- The walk-through inspection must take place within 4 days prior to the tenant vacating the unit during normal business hours unless agreed upon by the tenant.
- Landlords have the right to set the inspection time, but your tenant can request a time that may be convenient for them.
- If your tenant chooses not to be present for the inspection, they lose any right to contest any damages listed in the inspection report.
- If your tenant attends the inspection, then both of you must go through the property and compile a list of any damages. The two of you must also append their signatures on the list. If your tenant refuses to do so, you can pursue a legal action.
Not all tenants have a right to a walk-through inspection. As per Tennessee's security deposit law, this includes tenants who have:
- Abandoned the property without letting their Tennessee landlords know.
- Moved out without serving proper tenant notice.
- Been evicted through a court order.
- Failed to respond to the landlord’s request to inspect the unit.
Regardless, you must send a copy of the report to tenant if they request it. You must do so via certified mail.
Bottom Line
It is important for all landlords in Tennessee to understand their legal obligations regarding the Tennessee security deposit laws. So, if you have a specific question regarding this content or anything else a property management company could assist with, kindly contact Brentwood Square Management Services, Inc. for expert help.
Disclaimer: This blog is not meant to be used as a substitute for the professional legal advice of an attorney or property management company. Also, laws change and this post might not be updated at the time of your reading.
