Strong tenant protections
Breaking a lease in Tennessee
The mitigation question
Good news
Your landlord must make reasonable efforts to re-rent — you owe the gap, not the whole remainder. Yes — Tenn. Code § 66-28-507 (reasonable efforts to re-rent at fair rental).
Your protected exits
- Military. SCRA baseline (50 U.S.C. § 3955); no Tennessee state extension verified. Guide →
- Domestic violence. Written notice requesting release + mutually agreed release date within 30 days + ONE of: (i) a valid order of protection after hearing (§ 36-3-605), or (ii) a written report from a DV shelter, sexual-assault center, or… Tenn. Code § 66-28-205(b) (2021 amendment) Guide →
- Uninhabitable conditions. § 66-28-502 (essential services — written notice; procure-and-deduct, substitute housing, excused from rent during noncompliance) and § 66-28-501 (14 days' written notice → damages/injunction; vacate guidance per…
- Unlawful ouster/self-help by landlord — tenant may terminate + damages (§ 66-28-504)
Notice periods
| Situation | Rule |
|---|
| Dv | written notice; vacate within 30 days; documents ≤60 days old |
| Habitability | § 66-28-501: 14 days' written notice; fire/casualty: vacate + 14 days' written notice |
| Military | SCRA baseline |
Early-termination fees
Reported (confirm with a licensed attorney):
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Not legal advice. This page is general information about landlord-tenant law, not advice about your situation. Laws change and procedures vary by county. For advice about your lease, consult a licensed attorney in your state — many legal aid offices help renters free.