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Fairview is a growing city in Williamson County, Tennessee, situated roughly 25 miles southwest of Nashville. As Williamson County has attracted significant residential development and rising housing costs in recent years, more Fairview residents are renting — and more renters are asking questions about their legal rights. Understanding exactly which state laws apply to your rental is essential, because Tennessee's primary renter-protection statute, the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), only applies in counties with a population exceeding 75,000.
Williamson County's population has surpassed 75,000, which means URLTA protections — including habitability standards, security deposit rules, and anti-retaliation provisions — do apply to Fairview renters. However, there is no local rent control, no city-level housing ordinance, and no Fairview-specific tenant protection beyond state law. Landlords can raise rent by any amount with proper advance notice, and the state legislature has explicitly prohibited municipalities from enacting rent control.
This page summarizes the Tennessee statutes most relevant to Fairview renters — covering security deposits, repairs, eviction procedures, and where to get help. It is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you face an eviction, a habitability dispute, or believe your rights have been violated, contact a licensed Tennessee attorney or a legal aid organization.
Rent control is prohibited throughout Tennessee by state law. Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-35-102 expressly forbids any county or municipality from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance or resolution that would establish rent control or rent stabilization for private residential rental properties. This preemption is absolute — no local government in Tennessee, including the City of Fairview, has the legal authority to limit how much a landlord may charge or increase rent.
In practice, this means your landlord in Fairview can raise your rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenancies, with the appropriate advance notice period. There is no cap on rent increases, no requirement that increases be tied to inflation, and no registration or approval process for raises. If you receive a rent increase notice you believe is retaliatory — for example, issued shortly after you complained about a habitability issue — that is a separate legal question governed by Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-514, not by rent control law.
Because Williamson County's population exceeds 75,000, the Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 66-28-101 et seq., governs residential rental agreements in Fairview. The following are the major protections URLTA provides to Fairview renters.
Habitability (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-304): Your landlord must keep your rental unit in a fit and habitable condition — including maintaining structural components, plumbing, heating, electrical systems, and compliance with applicable building and housing codes. If a repair is needed, you must notify your landlord in writing. The landlord then has 14 days to begin remediation (or a shorter, reasonable time for emergency conditions). If the landlord fails to act, you may be entitled to remedies including rent escrow, repair-and-deduct (under specific conditions), or lease termination.
Security Deposit Rules (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 through § 66-28-305): Landlords must return your security deposit — along with an itemized written statement of any deductions — within 30 days after you vacate the property and provide a forwarding address. Deposits must not be commingled with the landlord's personal funds. If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of your deposit, you are entitled to recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus damages.
Notice to Terminate (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512): For month-to-month tenancies in URLTA counties, both the landlord and tenant must provide at least 30 days' written notice before terminating the tenancy. This notice period applies in Williamson County.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-514): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting housing code violations to a government authority, complaining to the landlord about habitability, or otherwise exercising rights under URLTA. Prohibited retaliatory acts include rent increases, reduction of services, and eviction. If retaliation is proven, the tenant may recover actual damages, attorney's fees, and other relief.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505): A landlord may not remove a tenant from the premises, change the locks, remove doors or windows, or cut off essential utilities as a means of eviction. These self-help eviction tactics are illegal in Tennessee. The only lawful way to remove a tenant is through the court-supervised eviction process.
Tennessee's security deposit rules for Fairview rentals are governed by Tenn. Code Ann. §§ 66-28-301 through 66-28-305, which apply in Williamson County under URLTA.
No statutory cap: Tennessee law does not set a maximum limit on the amount a landlord may collect as a security deposit. Landlords may charge whatever amount is agreed upon in the lease, though the amount must be disclosed clearly in the written rental agreement.
Holding requirements: Your landlord must hold your security deposit in a bank account that is separate from the landlord's personal or operating funds (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-302). The landlord is not required to pay interest on the deposit.
Return deadline: After you vacate the unit and provide your landlord with a forwarding address, the landlord has 30 days to return the deposit. If any portion is withheld, the landlord must include a written, itemized statement specifying each deduction and its dollar amount (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301(g)).
Allowable deductions: A landlord may deduct for unpaid rent, physical damage beyond normal wear and tear, and other lease violations that cause actual monetary loss. Normal wear and tear — minor scuffs, carpet wear from ordinary use, small nail holes — cannot be charged against your deposit.
Penalty for wrongful withholding: If your landlord fails to return the deposit within 30 days, fails to provide the required itemized statement, or makes deductions for items that do not qualify, you may sue to recover the wrongfully withheld amount plus additional damages under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301. Keep documentation of the unit's condition at move-in and move-out — photographs, written checklists, and communication records — to support any claim.
In Fairview, a landlord must follow Tennessee's statutory eviction process to remove a tenant. Self-help eviction — locking you out, removing your belongings, or shutting off utilities — is illegal under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-505 and may entitle you to damages.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the appropriate written notice. The type of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Detainer Warrant Filed in Sessions Court: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord must file a detainer warrant (eviction complaint) in Williamson County Sessions Court. The court will schedule a hearing, typically within a few days to two weeks of filing.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both landlord and tenant appear before the Sessions Court judge. Tenants have the right to present defenses, including payment of rent, habitability failures by the landlord, or retaliatory eviction under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-514. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, a judgment for possession is entered.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If the tenant does not vacate voluntarily after judgment, the landlord may request a writ of possession. The Williamson County Sheriff's Office will then enforce the writ and physically remove the tenant if necessary.
Appeals: A tenant may appeal a Sessions Court judgment to the Circuit Court within 10 days of the ruling by posting an appeal bond.
No just cause requirement: Tennessee law does not require a landlord to have a specific reason (just cause) to end a month-to-month tenancy. As long as proper notice is given and the eviction follows the court process, a landlord may decline to renew or continue a tenancy. However, evicting a tenant in retaliation for exercising legal rights remains prohibited under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-514.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are complex, can change, and depend on the specific facts of your situation. While we strive to keep this content accurate and up to date as of April 2026, we make no warranty that it reflects current law. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, a habitability problem, or any other housing legal issue, you should consult a licensed Tennessee attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization. Do not rely solely on this page to make legal decisions.
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