Tennessee Tenants
A professional demand letter citing Tennessee's security deposit statute (Tenn. Code § 66-28-301), the 30-day accounting deadline, and the forfeiture remedy for escrow and accounting failures. Ready in minutes.
Deadline
30 days
to return your deposit after move-out
Penalty
Forfeiture
of the right to withhold; no multiplier
Statute
§ 66-28-301
Tennessee Code (TURLTA)
Under Tenn. Code § 66-28-301, your landlord must hold your deposit in a separate account and, after your tenancy ends, account for it within 30 days — measured from the later of when you vacate or provide a forwarding address.
Tennessee does not use a 2× or 3× multiplier. Instead, a landlord who fails to comply with the statute’s escrow and accounting requirements forfeits the right to keep any portion of your deposit, and you may recover:
So if your landlord skips the separate account or the required accounting, the deductions collapse and you are owed the entire deposit. Most landlords return it quickly once they realize the law is on your side.
Who this covers: Tenancies in counties with a population above roughly 75,000 — including the major metros (Davidson/Nashville, Shelby/Memphis, Knox/Knoxville, Hamilton/Chattanooga, and others).
If it doesn't apply: In smaller counties, TURLTA does not apply and your demand rests on your lease and common-law contract rights. Your letter reflects whichever applies to you.
Important scope note: Tennessee’s URLTA applies only in counties with a population of more than 75,000 (which includes the major metro areas — Davidson/Nashville, Shelby/Memphis, Knox/Knoxville, Hamilton/Chattanooga, and others). In smaller counties, your demand rests on your lease and common-law contract rights. There is also a 60-day tenant-response window — respond promptly to any refund notice. Your letter reflects whichever applies to you.
Every letter follows the structure courts expect — your facts, the statute, a specific demand, and a deadline. Here's the skeleton; the generator fills the brackets from your answers and computes Tennessee's deadlines under § 66-28-301.
[Date]
[Your name]
[Your forwarding address]
[Landlord's name and address]
RE: Security Deposit — Formal Demand for Return of $[Amount]
I am the former tenant of [rental property address]. You accepted a security deposit of $[Amount], and my tenancy ended on [move-out date]. My forwarding address for return of the deposit is stated above, which I am providing to you in writing.
Under § 66-28-301, you were required to [return the deposit or provide an itemized statement] within [the statutory period]. That period has passed, and you have done neither. [The specific consequence Tennessee law attaches, cited by section.]
I demand return of $[Amount] no later than [deadline]. If I do not receive it, I am prepared to pursue all remedies available under [statute], including filing suit in the appropriate court.
Sincerely,
[Your name]
30 days, where the statute applies. Tenancies in counties with a population above roughly 75,000 — including the major metros (Davidson/Nashville, Shelby/Memphis, Knox/Knoxville, Hamilton/Chattanooga, and others). In smaller counties, TURLTA does not apply and your demand rests on your lease and common-law contract rights. Your letter reflects whichever applies to you.
A landlord who fails to comply with the escrow and accounting requirements forfeits the right to retain any portion of the deposit; the tenant recovers the full deposit plus court costs and any actual damages. Tennessee’s TURLTA provides no damages multiplier — sources citing "2×" are mistaken.
Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301. We verify these against the statute text itself; the date we last checked is shown on this page.
Sources & verification
The Tennessee rules on this page were verified against the statute text itself:
Last verified against primary sources on .
How we verify this →Laws change. If you spot something out of date, tell us at support@gettenantshield.com and we'll correct it.
Properly formatted, addressed to your landlord by name, citing the exact Tennessee statutes that apply to your situation.
Tenn. Code § 66-28-301 and any others triggered by your circumstances — not generic legalese.
The letter computes the exact dollar amount you're entitled to demand based on your deposit and the deductions at issue.
Download instantly, print, sign, and send via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt.
Most Tennessee landlords return the deposit within days of receiving a properly drafted demand letter.
Generate my letter — $39