It’s necessary to provide the correct type of Tennessee eviction notice to the tenant you’re removing from your property. If you don’t, the eviction could be overturned or take significantly longer to complete.
You must give your tenant the precise legal document for the situation, detailing a valid legal reason for the eviction under TN statutes. This will also affect how long you must give the resident as notice before they have to leave the property.
As seen below, there are a few different options in Tennessee when completing an eviction.
14-Day Notice to Quit (Non-Payment)
If the tenant fails to pay rent, you can serve them with a 14-Day eviction notice. This requires the tenant to either pay the rent owed or to quit the property within 14 days.
Assuming the tenant pays the rent within this time given, the notice will be null and void. However, if payment isn’t made, and they still refuse to leave, the landlord can sue the tenant in court.
This type of eviction notice gives tenants 14 days to pay the rent or leave the property if they fail to pay within the contractually agreed time. If the tenant still doesn’t pay or vacate after the notice period ends, the landlord can take them to court.
30-Day Notice to Quit (Non-Compliance)
In the case of a lease violation, the landlord may issue a 30-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Compliance. This will often give the tenant 30 days to correct the breach before they will be obliged to leave the property.
However, unconditional 30-Day Non-Compliance notices can be issued too for more serious offenses. These don’t give the tenant any chance to correct their breach of the lease.
30-Day Notice to Quit (Month-to-Month)
Landlords with tenants on flexible monthly rental agreements may end the tenancy without cause, as long as they provide a 30-Day Eviction letter.
If this is used, the tenant must leave the property within 30 days of this notice being delivered.
Be aware, however, if you continue to accept rental payments during this period, the notice will be considered null and void. This also does not include any payments of owed back rent.
Immediate Notice to Quit (Prostitution or Drug Violations)
Immediate Notices to Quit can only be used in a situation where the tenant has engaged in certain kinds of illegal behavior, such as prostitution or drug-related activities. This allows the landlord in question to terminate the lease immediately.
3-Day Notice to Quit (Illegal Behavior)
A 3-day notice to quit can be used for other types of illegal behavior that pose an immediate threat. This type of behavior cannot be cured by the tenant, and they will have to vacate the property within 3 days.