Important Notice: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Jurist-Diction is not a law firm. For legal representation in Tennessee, contact Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee — 1-800-238-1443 or Legal Aid of East Tennessee — 1-800-544-5657.
Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant Act (URLTA, T.C.A. § 66-28-101 et seq.) governs most residential tenancies in Tennessee. The URLTA applies to all counties in Tennessee where the county population exceeds 75,000 — which includes all major urban counties. For counties under the threshold, common law landlord-tenant rules apply, but many of the same substantive protections remain available.
Tennessee eviction cases are heard in General Sessions Court — an accessible, lower-level court that handles civil disputes under $25,000. Unlike circuit court, General Sessions does not require attorney representation, and hearings typically happen within a few weeks of the Detainer Warrant being served. The timeline is short. Prepare fast.
Available Defenses Under Tennessee Law
Each of these can be raised as an affirmative defense at your General Sessions hearing.
- T.C.A. § 66-28-501Failure to maintain habitable conditions — landlord violated warranty of habitability
- T.C.A. § 66-28-502Landlord retaliation — eviction follows tenant complaint or exercise of legal rights
- T.C.A. § 66-28-201Defective notice — improper form, timing, or method of service
- T.C.A. § 66-28-405Self-help eviction — landlord removed locks, cut utilities, or entered unlawfully
- T.C.A. § 66-28-507Right to remedy — tenant repaired habitability defect and deducted cost (within limits)
- T.C.A. § 66-28-506Acceptance of rent after notice — landlord waived right to evict by accepting payment
- SCRA § 3951Military service — active-duty servicemember or dependent
How to Respond to a Tennessee Eviction
Identify the Type of Eviction Notice
Tennessee law requires different notices for different grounds. Nonpayment of rent: 14-day written notice to pay or vacate (T.C.A. § 66-28-505). Material lease violation: 30-day notice with 14-day cure opportunity (T.C.A. § 66-28-505). Drug-related criminal activity or physical assault: 3-day notice, no cure. If the notice is the wrong type, was improperly served, or didn't give you enough time, that is a defense.
Know Where Your Eviction Will Be Heard
Eviction cases in Tennessee are filed in General Sessions Court (sometimes called "sessions court"). The court is county-specific: Shelby County (Memphis), Davidson County (Nashville), Knox County (Knoxville), Hamilton County (Chattanooga). Each county has slightly different procedures, but the substantive law under the URLTA is statewide.
Respond to the Detainer Warrant
In Tennessee, the eviction complaint is called a Detainer Warrant. You will be served with a copy and given a court date — typically 6–15 days after filing. You do not need to file a written answer before appearing, but you should appear. Failure to appear results in a default judgment, and the landlord can obtain a Writ of Possession within 10 days.
Assert the URLTA Habitability Defense
If your landlord has failed to maintain your unit in habitable condition — no heat, rodent infestation, plumbing failures, lack of running water, structural hazards — you may have a habitability defense under T.C.A. § 66-28-501. You must have provided written notice to the landlord before using this defense, and the landlord must have had a reasonable time to remedy the condition.
Check for Retaliation
Tennessee law prohibits retaliatory evictions (T.C.A. § 66-28-502). If you filed a complaint with a housing code enforcement agency, organized with other tenants, or asserted your legal rights under the URLTA, and the eviction followed within 60 days, there is a rebuttable presumption that the eviction is retaliatory. Document the date of your complaint and the date of the eviction notice.
Understand the Appeal Process
If General Sessions Court rules against you, you have 10 days to appeal to the Circuit Court or Chancery Court of your county. Filing the appeal does not automatically stay the eviction — you must post a bond (typically three months' rent) or qualify for an indigency waiver. The circuit court hearing is a de novo review: a fresh hearing, not a review of the general sessions decision.
General Sessions Courts in Major Tennessee Counties
Shelby County (Memphis)
Shelby County General Sessions Court
140 Adams Avenue, Memphis, TN 38103
(901) 222-3600
Davidson County (Nashville)
Davidson County General Sessions Court
408 2nd Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37201
(615) 862-5000
Knox County (Knoxville)
Knox County General Sessions Court
400 Main Street, Knoxville, TN 37902
(865) 215-2575
Hamilton County (Chattanooga)
Hamilton County General Sessions Court
600 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402
(423) 209-6600
Related Resources
All 95 Tennessee Counties
Tennessee Eviction Defense Packet
Jurisdiction-correct eviction defense documents for Tennessee General Sessions Court. Answer, affirmative defenses under the URLTA, hearing preparation checklist, and filing instructions.
Get the DocumentsDisclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Jurist-Diction is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation. For legal assistance in Tennessee, contact Legal Aid Society — 1-800-238-1443 or Memphis Area Legal Services — 901-523-8822.