Tennessee Security Deposit Demand Letter
Direct answer
In Tennessee, the landlord must return the deposit within No fixed statutory deadline (landlord must send notification of any refund due to last known or reasonably determinable address after tenant leaves not owing rent) or 60 calendar days (if tenant does not respond, landlord may remove and retain the deposit free of tenant claims (unclaimed funds rule, not a return deadline)) or 30 calendar days (outer limit for landlord to discover and recover costs of additional physical damages after inspection (or 7 days after a new tenant takes possession, if earlier)) or 7 calendar days (alternate outer limit for discovering additional physical damages after inspection (whichever of 30 days after vacate or 7 days after new possession is earlier)). The deadline is measured from this trigger: No fixed statutory deadline (landlord must send notification of any refund due to last known or reasonably determinable address after tenant leaves not owing rent): landlord must send notification of any refund due to last known or reasonably determinable address after tenant leaves not owing rent; 60 calendar days (if tenant does not respond, landlord may remove and retain the deposit free of tenant claims (unclaimed funds rule, not a return deadline)): after landlord sends notification of refund amount due; 30 calendar days (outer limit for landlord to discover and recover costs of additional physical damages after inspection (or 7 days after a new tenant takes possession, if earlier)): after tenant vacated or abandoned the premises; 7 calendar days (alternate outer limit for discovering additional physical damages after inspection (whichever of 30 days after vacate or 7 days after new possession is earlier)): after a new tenant takes possession. The verified state formula is landlord may not retain any portion of the deposit if deposit was not held in the required account and a damage listing is not provided as required; tenant may sue in circuit or general sessions court limited to items specifically dissented under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301.
Key facts
| Deadline | No fixed statutory deadline (landlord must send notification of any refund due to last known or reasonably determinable address after tenant leaves not owing rent) (no fixed statutory number of days to return the deposit itself; statute requires notification of refund amount but does not set a calendar return deadline); trigger: landlord must send notification of any refund due to last known or reasonably determinable address after tenant leaves not owing rent |
|---|---|
| Deadline (branch 2) | 60 calendar days (if tenant does not respond, landlord may remove and retain the deposit free of tenant claims (unclaimed funds rule, not a return deadline)); trigger: after landlord sends notification of refund amount due |
| Deadline (branch 3) | 30 calendar days (outer limit for landlord to discover and recover costs of additional physical damages after inspection (or 7 days after a new tenant takes possession, if earlier)); trigger: after tenant vacated or abandoned the premises |
| Deadline (branch 4) | 7 calendar days (alternate outer limit for discovering additional physical damages after inspection (whichever of 30 days after vacate or 7 days after new possession is earlier)); trigger: after a new tenant takes possession |
| Penalty formula | landlord may not retain any portion of the deposit if deposit was not held in the required account and a damage listing is not provided as required; tenant may sue in circuit or general sessions court limited to items specifically dissented |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Itemization required | Yes |
| Interest on deposit | No |
| Maximum deposit | No statewide statutory maximum under § 66-28-301. |
| Forwarding address required | No |
| Small claims limit | $25,000 (General Sessions Court (statewide civil jurisdiction limit commonly used for deposit suits)) in General Sessions Court or Circuit Court |
| Statute citation | Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 |
Statute says
In the event the tenant leaves not owing rent and having any refund due, the landlord shall send notification to the last known or reasonably determinable address, of the amount of any refund due the tenant. In the event the landlord shall not have received a response from the tenant within sixty (60) days from the sending of such notification, the landlord may remove the deposit from the account and retain it free from any claim of the tenant or any person claiming in the tenant's behalf.
What this means
Read the deadline, trigger, and penalty together before sending a letter. Match the dates in your documents to the trigger listed above, then cite Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 and request the deposit amount supported by your records.
Worked example
Use your actual deposit amount when you write the letter. For context, median rent in Tennessee is $1,284 according to U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey, presented by USAFacts data as of .
- Nashville-Davidson-Murfreesboro-Franklin metro area: $1,528
- Memphis metro area: $1,220
- Knoxville metro area: $1,145
- Jackson metro area: $997
Example demand basis: a deposit equal to the state median rent starts at $1,284 before applying the state formula: landlord may not retain any portion of the deposit if deposit was not held in the required account and a damage listing is not provided as required; tenant may sue in circuit or general sessions court limited to items specifically dissented.
County small claims courts
| County | Court and city | Limit | Filing fee | E-filing | Court link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelby County | Shelby County General Sessions Court, Civil Division, Memphis | $25,000 (General Sessions Court (statewide civil jurisdiction limit commonly used for deposit suits)) | $50 statutory clerk filing fee for a civil warrant, plus applicable litigation taxes and service costs. Official 2026 fee source: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=SB0409&GA=114 | No | Court site |
| Davidson County | Metropolitan General Sessions Court, Civil Division, Nashville | $25,000 (General Sessions Court (statewide civil jurisdiction limit commonly used for deposit suits)) | $145.75 for a civil warrant with one sheriff service: $50 clerk, $52 sheriff, and $43.75 litigation tax. Official source: https://circuitclerk.nashville.gov/general-sessions-civil-division-filing-fees-effective-january-1-2026/ | No | Court site |
| Knox County | Knox County General Sessions Court, Civil Division, Knoxville | $25,000 (General Sessions Court (statewide civil jurisdiction limit commonly used for deposit suits)) | $50 statutory clerk filing fee for a civil warrant, plus applicable litigation taxes and service costs. Official 2026 fee source: https://wapp.capitol.tn.gov/apps/BillInfo/Default?BillNumber=SB0409&GA=114 | No | Court site |
| Hamilton County | Hamilton County General Sessions Court, Civil Division, Chattanooga | $25,000 (General Sessions Court (statewide civil jurisdiction limit commonly used for deposit suits)) | $271.25 for a civil warrant with one sheriff service: $50 clerk, $52 sheriff, and $169.25 taxes. Official source: https://www.hamiltontn.gov/pdf/courts/sessions/Sessions%20Civil%20Filing%20Fees%20effective%202026-01-01.pdf | No | Court site |
| Rutherford County | Rutherford County General Sessions Court, Civil Division, Murfreesboro | $25,000 (General Sessions Court (statewide civil jurisdiction limit commonly used for deposit suits)) | $50 statutory clerk filing fee for a civil warrant, plus applicable litigation taxes and service costs. The county court links its current fee sheet at https://rutherfordcountytn.gov/general-sessions | No | Court site |
Free Tennessee template, built from verified state data
I am requesting the return of my security deposit. The verified Tennessee data for this page lists a No fixed statutory deadline (landlord must send notification of any refund due to last known or reasonably determinable address after tenant leaves not owing rent) or 60 calendar days (if tenant does not respond, landlord may remove and retain the deposit free of tenant claims (unclaimed funds rule, not a return deadline)) or 30 calendar days (outer limit for landlord to discover and recover costs of additional physical damages after inspection (or 7 days after a new tenant takes possession, if earlier)) or 7 calendar days (alternate outer limit for discovering additional physical damages after inspection (whichever of 30 days after vacate or 7 days after new possession is earlier)) return window and cites Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301.
Before you send
- Collect your lease, deposit receipt, and move-in records.
- Save photos, videos, and messages about move-out condition.
- Write down the move-out date you can prove.
- Confirm the forwarding address you gave the landlord.
- Send by certified mail when appropriate, and keep a copy of the final letter and delivery proof.
When this letter will NOT work
- The dispute is not about return of a security deposit.
- You need urgent court relief instead of a demand letter.
- You cannot identify the landlord or property manager to contact.
- Your documents point to a different state or a different kind of claim.
Typical mistakes
- Sending a letter before organizing the documents that prove the timeline.
- Demanding an amount that does not match the payment records.
- Leaving out the forwarding address or preferred response method.
- Mixing repair complaints into a deposit letter without separating the issues.
FAQ
Does Nashville have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Tennessee law and local rules.
Does Memphis have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Tennessee law and local rules.
Does Knoxville have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Tennessee law and local rules.
Does Chattanooga have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Tennessee law and local rules.
Can I use this if I do not know the exact deposit amount?
Use the amount shown in your lease, receipt, or move-in records. If records conflict, keep copies and avoid guessing in the letter.
Should I send evidence with the first letter?
Attach copies when they prove the basic facts, such as payment, move-out condition, forwarding address, or prior messages.
Can this page replace legal advice?
No. This page is self-help information for organizing a demand letter and checking the cited data before you act.
City data on this page currently includes Nashville, Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Clarksville, Murfreesboro.
Tenant resources
- Help4TNlegal aid, 844-435-7486
- Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee and the Cumberlandslegal aid, 800-238-1443
- West Tennessee Legal Serviceslegal aid, 800-372-8346
- Tennessee Division of Consumer Affairsag consumer
- Tennessee Courts General Sessions Civil Formscourt self help