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Soddy-Daisy is a small city in Hamilton County, Tennessee, situated along the Tennessee River north of Chattanooga. Like all Tennessee municipalities, Soddy-Daisy has no local rent control ordinances and no city-specific tenant protection laws — renters here depend entirely on Tennessee state law for their rights and remedies.
Hamilton County has a population well above 75,000, which means Soddy-Daisy renters are covered by Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), found at Tenn. Code §§ 66-28-101 through 66-28-521. The URLTA provides meaningful protections including habitability standards, security deposit rules, anti-retaliation provisions, and a clear eviction process. Renters in Soddy-Daisy most commonly search for information about rent increases, security deposit returns, and eviction notice requirements.
This page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws can change, and your specific situation may require guidance from a licensed attorney or a legal aid organization. If you need help, free legal resources are available for qualifying tenants in Hamilton County.
Soddy-Daisy has no rent control — and neither does any city or county in Tennessee. Tennessee state law explicitly forbids local governments from enacting rent control ordinances. Tenn. Code § 66-35-102 states that no county or municipality may enact any ordinance or resolution that would control or establish a maximum amount of rent charged for a residential rental unit. This preemption is absolute: even if a city council wanted to protect tenants from large rent increases, it would be legally barred from doing so.
In practice, this means your landlord in Soddy-Daisy can raise your rent by any amount, at any time, as long as they provide the required advance written notice — 30 days for month-to-month tenancies under Tenn. Code § 66-28-512. For fixed-term leases, rent cannot be raised until the lease expires unless the lease itself permits mid-term increases. There is no cap on the size of a rent increase, no required justification, and no approval process. Tenants who receive a rent increase they cannot afford may choose not to renew their lease; refusing to pay the new rent after proper notice has been given can result in eviction proceedings.
Because Hamilton County exceeds 75,000 in population, Soddy-Daisy tenants are covered by Tennessee's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA), Tenn. Code §§ 66-28-101 through 66-28-521. Key protections include:
Habitability (Tenn. Code § 66-28-304): Landlords must maintain rental units in a fit and habitable condition, keep common areas safe and clean, maintain all supplied utilities and appliances in good working order, and comply with applicable building and housing codes. If your landlord fails to make required repairs after written notice, you may have remedies including rent escrow, lease termination, or a lawsuit for damages.
Repair Notice Requirements (Tenn. Code § 66-28-502): Before pursuing most repair remedies, you must give your landlord written notice of the problem. For non-emergency deficiencies, the landlord generally has 14 days to begin remediation. Emergency conditions affecting health or safety may require action within a reasonable shorter period.
Security Deposit Rules (Tenn. Code § 66-28-301 through § 66-28-305): There is no statutory cap on the deposit amount, but landlords must hold deposits in a separate account and return the deposit within 30 days of move-out along with an itemized written statement of any deductions. Failure to comply entitles the tenant to the full deposit amount plus damages.
Notice to Terminate (Tenn. Code § 66-28-512): In URLTA counties, a month-to-month tenancy requires at least 30 days written notice from either party before termination. A fixed-term lease ends on its stated date without further notice.
Anti-Retaliation (Tenn. Code § 66-28-514): Landlords may not retaliate against tenants who report housing code violations, complain to a government agency, or exercise any right protected under the URLTA. Retaliatory acts include rent increases, eviction attempts, or reduction of services taken within a suspicious timeframe after protected activity.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (Tenn. Code § 66-28-505): A landlord may not remove a tenant's personal property, lock them out of the unit, or deliberately interrupt utility service as a means of forcing them to leave. These self-help eviction tactics are illegal, and a tenant subjected to them may recover possession of the unit and damages.
Security deposit rules for Soddy-Daisy renters are governed by Tenn. Code §§ 66-28-301 through 66-28-305, which apply in Hamilton County under the URLTA.
Deposit Cap: Tennessee law does not set a maximum limit on the security deposit amount a landlord may charge. The amount is determined by the lease agreement, though it must be reasonable and non-discriminatory.
Separate Account Requirement: Landlords must keep security deposits in a separate bank account — they cannot commingle the deposit with their own funds. Upon request, the landlord must disclose the name of the institution holding the deposit (Tenn. Code § 66-28-302).
Return Deadline: After you vacate the unit and provide a forwarding address, your landlord has 30 days to return the deposit. The return must be accompanied by an itemized written statement detailing any deductions for unpaid rent, damages beyond normal wear and tear, or other permitted charges (Tenn. Code § 66-28-301(g)).
Penalty for Wrongful Withholding: If your landlord fails to return the deposit and provide a proper itemized statement within the 30-day deadline without a valid legal reason, you may be entitled to recover the full amount of the deposit plus additional damages in court (Tenn. Code § 66-28-301(g)). To protect yourself, document the unit's condition at move-in and move-out with photos or video, get the landlord's signature on a move-in checklist if possible, and always provide a written forwarding address when you leave.
Evictions in Soddy-Daisy are governed by the URLTA (Tenn. Code §§ 66-28-501 through 66-28-521) and Tennessee's detainer statute (Tenn. Code § 29-18-101 et seq.). Tennessee law requires landlords to follow a specific court process — there are no shortcuts.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, a landlord must serve a written notice on the tenant. The required notice period depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Filing in Sessions Court: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord may file a Detainer Warrant in Hamilton County General Sessions Court. The tenant will be served with a court summons and given a hearing date, typically within a few days to a few weeks of filing.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties appear before a General Sessions judge. Tenants have the right to present a defense — for example, that rent was paid, the landlord failed to maintain the unit, or that the notice was procedurally defective. If the judge rules in the landlord's favor, a Writ of Possession will be issued after any applicable appeal period.
Step 4 — Writ of Possession / Enforcement: If the tenant does not vacate voluntarily after judgment, the landlord must obtain a Writ of Possession from the court. Only a sheriff or constable may physically remove the tenant and their belongings — the landlord cannot do so unilaterally.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: Under Tenn. Code § 66-28-505, it is unlawful for a landlord to remove a tenant's belongings, change the locks, or shut off utilities (electricity, water, heat) in order to force a tenant out without a court order. A tenant who is subjected to a self-help eviction may seek immediate legal relief including restoration of possession and damages. If you experience an illegal lockout or utility shutoff, contact legal aid immediately.
No Just Cause Requirement: Tennessee does not require landlords to have a specific reason (just cause) to end a month-to-month tenancy — they need only give 30 days written notice. Just cause protections do not exist under current state law.
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 these laws to your specific circumstances may vary. For advice about your individual situation, please consult a licensed Tennessee attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for any actions taken in reliance upon it.
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