Last updated: April 2026
Memphis renters are protected by Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), which covers Shelby County. Learn what your landlord can and cannot do under Tennessee law.
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Memphis is Tennessee's largest city and home to roughly 650,000 residents, with renters making up a significant share of the population across Shelby County. As a renter in Memphis, the most important framework governing your rights is Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), which automatically applies in counties with populations over 75,000 — Shelby County qualifies, so Memphis renters benefit from the full set of URLTA protections.
Memphis renters most commonly search for information on security deposit returns, rent increase limits, eviction procedures, and what to do when landlords fail to make repairs. The key takeaway: there is no rent control in Memphis or anywhere in Tennessee, meaning landlords can raise rent by any amount with proper notice. However, the URLTA does provide meaningful protections around habitability, anti-retaliation, security deposits, and the eviction process.
This page provides a plain-language summary of the laws that affect Memphis renters. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you are facing eviction, an illegal lockout, or another urgent housing situation, contact Memphis Area Legal Services or another qualified attorney.
Memphis has no rent control, and Tennessee state law prohibits any city or county from enacting it. Tennessee Code Annotated § 66-35-102 explicitly preempts local governments from passing any ordinance, resolution, or regulation that controls or limits the amount of rent a landlord may charge. This statewide prohibition has been in place for decades and was reinforced by the legislature in recent years, leaving no legal pathway for Memphis or Shelby County to establish rent stabilization on their own.
In practice, this means your landlord can raise your rent by any amount — there is no percentage cap, no inflation index, and no requirement to justify the increase. The only limit is procedural: your landlord must provide proper written notice before increasing rent. For month-to-month tenants in Memphis, that notice period is 30 days under Tenn. Code § 66-28-512. For tenants on a fixed-term lease, the landlord generally cannot raise the rent until the lease expires unless the lease specifically allows for mid-term increases.
If you receive a rent increase notice, you have the right to accept it, negotiate, or vacate with proper notice. You do not have a legal right to refuse a rent increase simply because it is large — but you do retain all your other URLTA rights regardless of any pending increase.
Because Shelby County exceeds 75,000 in population, Memphis renters are covered by the Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), Tenn. Code §§ 66-28-101 through 66-28-521. The following are the major protections that apply.
Habitability & Repairs (Tenn. Code § 66-28-304): Landlords in Memphis must maintain rental units in a fit and habitable condition, including working plumbing, heating, electrical systems, and structural soundness. To exercise your repair rights, you must give your landlord written notice of the deficiency. The landlord then has 14 days to begin remedying non-emergency issues, or a reasonable time for emergencies. If the landlord fails to act, you may be entitled to remedies including rent escrow (paying rent into a court account), repair-and-deduct, or lease termination — depending on the severity of the condition.
Security Deposit Return (Tenn. Code § 66-28-301 & § 66-28-302): Landlords must return your security deposit — or provide a written itemized statement of deductions — within 30 days of the termination of tenancy and surrender of the unit. Deductions are only permitted for unpaid rent and damages beyond normal wear and tear. Wrongful withholding entitles the tenant to recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus additional damages.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (Tenn. Code § 66-28-512): For month-to-month tenancies in URLTA counties like Shelby County, either party must give at least 30 days' written notice before terminating the tenancy. A landlord cannot simply demand you leave without this notice. For fixed-term leases, the lease itself governs the end date.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (Tenn. Code § 66-28-514): A landlord may not retaliate against a tenant for reporting code violations to a government agency, complaining about habitability conditions, or exercising any right provided by the URLTA. Retaliatory acts include unjustified rent increases, reduction of services, or attempting to evict the tenant. If retaliation is proven, the tenant may recover actual damages plus attorney's fees.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tenn. Code § 66-28-505): Self-help eviction is illegal in Tennessee. A landlord cannot change your locks, remove your belongings, or intentionally shut off your utilities (electricity, water, gas, heat) to force you out — even if you owe back rent. The only lawful way to remove a tenant is through the court eviction process in Shelby County General Sessions Court.
Tennessee's URLTA governs security deposits for Memphis renters under Tenn. Code §§ 66-28-301 through 66-28-302. Here is what you need to know:
No statutory cap: Tennessee law does not limit how much a landlord can charge for a security deposit in the URLTA counties. Your landlord sets the amount, though it must be disclosed in the lease.
Separate account required: Under Tenn. Code § 66-28-301, landlords must hold security deposits in a separate bank account — not commingled with the landlord's personal or business funds. The landlord must notify you in writing of the bank's name and address where the deposit is held.
30-day return deadline: After the tenancy ends and you vacate the unit, your landlord has 30 days to either return your full deposit or provide you with a written, itemized list of deductions explaining what was withheld and why. The statement must be accompanied by payment of any remaining balance.
Permissible deductions: Landlords may only deduct for unpaid rent and physical damages to the unit that go beyond normal wear and tear. Routine cleaning or repainting due to ordinary use is not a valid deduction.
Penalty for wrongful withholding: If your landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the itemized statement within 30 days — or makes improper deductions — you are entitled to recover the amount wrongfully withheld plus additional damages under Tenn. Code § 66-28-301. Courts may award the tenant the full deposit plus court costs in egregious cases. Document your move-out condition with photos and keep copies of all written communications.
Memphis landlords must follow a strictly defined legal process to evict a tenant. Tennessee law, specifically the URLTA under Tenn. Code §§ 66-28-501 through 66-28-521, governs evictions in Shelby County. Here is how the process works:
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing anything with a court, the landlord must serve the tenant with written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing in General Sessions Court: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord must file a Detainer Warrant with the Shelby County General Sessions Court. The court will set a hearing date, and the tenant will be served with the warrant. Tenants have the right to appear and present a defense.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: At the hearing, both sides may present evidence. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, a judgment for possession is entered. Tenants who disagree may appeal to Circuit Court within 10 days by posting an appeal bond.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession: If the tenant does not vacate after judgment, the landlord may request a Writ of Possession, which authorizes a sheriff or constable to physically remove the tenant and their belongings.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: At no point in this process may a landlord change your locks, remove your doors, shut off your utilities, or remove your personal property to force you out. Such acts are prohibited by Tenn. Code § 66-28-505. If your landlord does any of these things, contact Memphis Area Legal Services or file a complaint with the court immediately — you may be entitled to damages.
No. Memphis does not have rent control, and Tennessee state law makes it impossible for the city to enact any. Tenn. Code § 66-35-102 explicitly prohibits local governments from passing ordinances that limit or control residential rent amounts. There is no rent stabilization, no cap on increases, and no local exemption to this statewide preemption.
There is no limit on how much a landlord can raise your rent in Memphis. Because Tennessee's statewide preemption (Tenn. Code § 66-35-102) bars rent control, landlords may raise rent by any amount. However, for a month-to-month tenancy, your landlord must give you at least 30 days' written notice before the increase takes effect, per Tenn. Code § 66-28-512. If you are on a fixed-term lease, your rent generally cannot be raised until the lease expires unless the lease specifically allows it.
Your landlord has 30 days after you vacate the unit to return your security deposit or provide a written itemized statement of any deductions, under Tenn. Code § 66-28-301. Deductions are only allowed for unpaid rent or damages beyond normal wear and tear. If your landlord fails to return the deposit or provide the itemized statement within 30 days, you may be entitled to recover the wrongfully withheld amount plus additional damages.
The required notice depends on the reason for eviction. For nonpayment of rent, your landlord must give you a 14-day written notice to pay or vacate under Tenn. Code § 66-28-505. For a lease violation other than nonpayment, you must receive a 30-day notice with 14 days to cure the breach. For a no-cause termination of a month-to-month tenancy, 30 days' written notice is required under Tenn. Code § 66-28-512. After proper notice, the landlord must file in Shelby County General Sessions Court — they cannot remove you without a court order.
No. Self-help eviction is illegal in Tennessee. Under Tenn. Code § 66-28-505, your landlord cannot change your locks, remove your belongings, shut off your electricity, water, or heat, or take any other action designed to force you out without going through the court eviction process. If your landlord does any of these things, contact Memphis Area Legal Services immediately at malsi.org or seek emergency relief from Shelby County General Sessions Court, as you may be entitled to damages.
Under Tenn. Code § 66-28-304, you must first give your landlord written notice of the repair needed. After receiving written notice, the landlord has 14 days to begin repairs for non-emergency issues, or a reasonable time for emergencies. If the landlord still fails to act, you may have remedies including rent escrow (paying rent into a court account), repair-and-deduct, or lease termination, depending on the severity. Document everything in writing and contact Memphis Area Legal Services (malsi.org) for guidance before withholding rent or taking other action.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by reading this page. If you are facing eviction, an illegal lockout, a security deposit dispute, or any other housing legal matter, please consult a qualified attorney or contact Memphis Area Legal Services, Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services, or another licensed legal professional. Always verify current statutes and ordinances directly with official sources or an attorney, as laws may have changed since this page was last updated in April 2026.
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