Glossary
Security Deposit
Money held by a landlord against damage or unpaid rent, subject to specific Tennessee rules on handling and return.
Where URLTA applies, a landlord must hold a residential security deposit in a separate account and follow a defined process at the end of a tenancy: inspecting, itemising any deductions in writing, and returning the balance within the statutory period.
Deductions are for damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, and for amounts the tenant actually owes. Ordinary wear is not damage, and the distinction is the source of most disputes.
The practical answer for both sides is documentation. Photographs at move-in and move-out, dated, resolve most deposit arguments before they reach a courtroom.
General information about Tennessee law, not legal advice. How this applies depends on the facts of your matter.
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