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Nashville, Tennessee Medium Risk Clause

Lease Renewal Clause
in Your Lease

What it actually means, what Tennessee law says, what's specific to Nashville - and exactly what to do. In plain English.

Last reviewed: October 2026
Location: Nashville, Tennessee
Read time: 8 minutes
Not legal advice
LD
Written by
LeaseDecoded Research Team
Statutes verified against primary state sources
How this page is sourced
Every statute cited here was read in its published text before this page went live: on the state's own site where that site can be reached, otherwise on a republished copy of the code. Court decisions are quoted from the published opinion and linked to it, so you can read the original yourself.
Primary sourcesNot legal advice
Content verified against primary state statutes before publication Last updated: October 2026

Quick Summary - What You Need to Know

  • Month to month: either side ends the tenancy with 30 days' written notice. Week to week: 10 days.
  • A fixed-term lease ends on its expiration date. No Tennessee statute we read requires non-renewal notice.
  • No Tennessee statute we read caps a renewal increase, and Nashville adds no renewal rule of its own.
  • The state URLTA applies only in Tennessee's larger counties, and Davidson County (Nashville) is one of them.
  • Staying past your term in willful bad faith exposes you to damages plus the landlord's attorney fees.
Section 01

Understanding the Lease Renewal Clause

30 days
Notice required to not renew in Nashville
Tennessee's notice rule covers periodic tenancies. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512, you or your landlord can end a month-to-month tenancy with 30 days' written notice. Week to week, it is 10 days. A fixed-term lease ends on its expiration date, and no Tennessee statute we read requires notice to decline renewal, which leaves your lease's renewal clause as the place to look.

This page is for Nashville renters whose lease is ending and who want to know how much warning they get, or owe, about renewal. The most important thing to know is your tenancy type.

Tennessee's notice rule covers month-to-month and week-to-week renters. On a fixed term, such as a twelve-month lease, the timing comes from the renewal paragraph you signed. Read it early in the term, not in the final weeks.

What renters assume

On a one-year Tennessee lease, my landlord owes me 30 days' notice before deciding not to renew.

What is actually true

The 30 days in § 66-28-512 covers a month-to-month tenancy. A fixed term ends on its expiration date, so read your lease's renewal paragraph for the timing.

Tennessee sits near the bottom of this chart, and the 30-day figure is narrower than it looks - it covers month-to-month tenancies only. When a fixed term runs out, the notice owed is zero.

A Seattle landlord has to offer a term tenant a renewal absent just cause; a Nashville landlord just lets the date arrive.

Clause decoder

Lease Renewal Clause Example - What the Wording Looks Like in Nashville, TN

The sample clause below is real lease language - a court quoted it word for word, and then ruled on it. What the judge decided is at the bottom of this block.

Real clause - quoted in a published court opinion

Find the equivalent paragraph in your own lease and read the two side by side. The wording will differ; the moving parts rarely do.

The clause an Ohio appellate court construed, printed with the asterisk ellipses the opinion itself uses where wording is omitted:

[I]f Tenant is to vacate the premises as of December 31, 2011, Landlord must receive by October 31, 2011 Tenant’s written notice to terminate * * * or the Lease will automatically renew for the one year term beginning January 1, 2012 and ending December 31, 2012 * * * .

Quoted from the published opinion in Continental Ents., Ltd. v. Hunt, 2015-Ohio-5411 (Ohio Ct. App., 8th Dist., Cuyahoga No. 102200, Dec. 24, 2015). Judicial opinions are not subject to copyright; the lease language is reproduced in limited part for commentary under 17 U.S.C. § 107.

What the 4 highlighted phrases mean
1

“Landlord must receive”

Arrival is the test, not the postmark, so a letter that leaves your hands on the deadline is already late. Tennessee does not supply this date at all - our Tennessee record shows no statute requiring notice to decline renewal of a fixed-term lease, which leaves the renewal paragraph you signed as the thing that fixes it. That makes it a paragraph to read in the first month of a tenancy rather than the last.

See the example
Whatever method the lease names, produce evidence that the notice landed: a signed receipt, a delivery confirmation, or a written reply you can point to. A deadline written around receipt is really a deadline about proof.
Tenant-favourable“Notice is effective on the date sent, by any written method, including email”
What this lease said“Landlord must receive”
Landlord-favourable“Notice must be received by certified mail at Landlord’s post office box; email is not accepted”
2

“notice to terminate”

The letter has one job - to end the lease, not to open a negotiation about it - and the clause usually dictates its form, its address and its timing. The figure Tennessee does set is a different creature: Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512 requires 30 days' written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy and 10 days for week to week, and neither reaches a fixed term whose own deadline has gone by. Read the ruling below with its limit attached: the email that rescued that tenant persuaded Ohio's Eighth District applying Ohio law, and a Tennessee court is not bound by it.

Tenant-favourable“Any clear written statement that Tenant will not renew is sufficient notice”
What this lease said“notice to terminate”
Landlord-favourable“Notice is valid only in the form set out in this paragraph and signed by every tenant”
3

“renew for the one year term”

Silence buys a further year, and Tennessee leaves the length of that roll to the document. Two cities elsewhere take the same moment away from the lease entirely: Chicago's RLTO 5-12-130(j) puts the landlord on a 30, 60 or 120 day clock before a renewal can be declined, and Philadelphia Code § 9-804 demands one of nine listed good-cause reasons before a lease of less than a year can be refused at all.

Tenant-favourable“Any renewal term shall be no longer than the notice period Tenant must give to avoid it”
What this lease said“renew for the one year term”
Landlord-favourable“Renewal is for a further twelve months whether or not Tenant was reminded of the deadline”
4

“beginning January 1, 2012”

The new term starts the day after the old one ends, with no gap to think in. That matters in Tennessee because of what a tenant who stays on without renewing is exposed to: a willful bad-faith holdover brings damages plus the landlord's attorney fees, which is a very different bill from one month's extra rent.

See the example
A holdover argument turns on what you did after the date, so keep whatever shows you tried to settle it - the message asking whether the lease had already rolled, the reply, and the date you handed the keys back.
Tenant-favourable“Tenant remaining after the term with Landlord’s consent holds month to month”
What this lease said“beginning January 1, 2012”
Landlord-favourable“Tenant remaining after the term is liable for holdover damages and Landlord’s attorney fees”
What the court did with it

Two rulings, and the landlord lost the one that mattered. Ohio's Eighth District first reversed the trial court's conclusion that this clause made the lease perpetual and therefore void for failure to comply with the statute of conveyances, R.C. 5301.01: a one-year lease that renews into a second stated year does not automatically renew for a term exceeding three years, so the clause survived the statutory attack. Then the court affirmed judgment for the tenant anyway. She had substantially complied with the notice requirement by emailing the landlord under the subject line “RE: Nonrenewal of lease,” even though the clause demanded certified mail to a post office box, received 60 days out; enforcing it hypertechnically would be unconscionable. The much-quoted observation that “it is unreasonable to suppose that ordinary people can regulate their lives in such a manner so as to conform to a sixty-day lease termination provision” comes from Meadowbrook, an earlier Eighth District case, quoted in Continental - it is not Continental's own words. Two reading notes. The asterisks inside the quotation are the opinion's own ellipses, marking wording the court left out. And this is Ohio, Eighth District only: substantial compliance is not a national rule, and nothing on this page should be read as promising it anywhere else.

How this state's law treats this clause
Tennessee's landlord-tenant act does not cover the whole state, but it does cover you: the Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies only in the larger counties, and Davidson County is one of them. Within it, no statute requires notice to decline renewal of a fixed-term lease, so the clause you signed is what sets that deadline. Nashville adds nothing of its own on renewal - Tenn. Code Ann. 66-35-102 preempts local rent regulation, and our Tennessee record finds no Davidson County renewal rule beyond the state act. The state's notice figures - 30 days for month to month, 10 days for week to week - are in: Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512

One court, one lease, one state. That answer is not automatically yours, and your lease may be worded to land differently. Use this to know what to look for and what to ask - your state's tenant hotline or a local tenant attorney can answer it for your document.

Section 02

Tennessee Law on Lease Renewal Clause

The law in Tennessee
  • Section 66-28-512 requires 30 days' written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy and 10 days for week-to-week.
  • The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies only in Tennessee's larger counties, which includes Davidson County (Nashville).
  • No Tennessee statute we read requires notice to decline renewal of a fixed-term lease, so check the lease's own renewal clause.
  • A willful bad-faith holdover exposes the tenant to damages plus the landlord's attorney fees.

Sources include Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512 - statutes change; verify the current text for your situation.

Count it for your dates

30 days before: the last day to act

Last day to give the notice

What it means: Written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy must be given at least 30 days before that day. Applies to the landlord or the tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy (week to week is 10 days; a fixed-term lease ends on its expiration date) (Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512). Calendar arithmetic only; check how the section counts days before you rely on a date.

Copy and send: At least 30 days before the day you want the tenancy to end

Written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy

Fill in the brackets and keep a copy of what you send.

Tennessee's renewal notice rule is Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512. It applies to either party, the landlord or the tenant.

  • Month to month. 30 days' written notice to end the tenancy.
  • Week to week. 10 days of notice.
  • Fixed term. The lease ends on its expiration date. No Tennessee statute we read requires notice to decline renewal, which leaves your lease's renewal clause as the document that answers it.
  • Holdover. A willful bad-faith holdover exposes the tenant to damages plus the landlord's attorney fees.

The state's Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies only in Tennessee's larger counties, and Davidson County (Nashville) is one of them. No Tennessee statute we read caps a renewal increase.

Statutes change, so check the current text of § 66-28-512 before you count a day.

Section 03

What's Specific to Nashville

Notice required to not renew

Same clause, 25 cities, different rules. Tap any city for its own guide.

New York City, New York
30-90 daysby tenure
Denver, Colorado
90 days
Portland, Oregon
90 daysafter first year
Los Angeles, California
60 days
Miami, Florida
Up to 60 dayslease-set
Seattle, Washington
60 days
Atlanta, Georgia
60 daystenancy at will
Baltimore, Maryland
60 dayslease or month-to-month
Austin, Texas
30 daysmonth-to-month
Chicago, Illinois
30 daysmonth-to-month
Phoenix, Arizona
30 daysmonth-to-month
Nashville, Tennessee
30 daysmonth-to-month
Boston, Massachusetts
30 daystenancy at will
Las Vegas, Nevada
30 daysmonth-to-month
Columbus, Ohio
30 daysmonth-to-month
Detroit, Michigan
1 monthmonth-to-month
Minneapolis, Minnesota
1 monthtenancy at will
Kansas City, Missouri
1 monthmonth-to-month
Indianapolis, Indiana
1 monthmonth-to-month
Louisville, Kentucky
30 daysmonth-to-month
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
28 daysmonth-to-month
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
15 days30 if over 1 yr
Charlotte, North Carolina
7 daysmonth-to-month
Washington, District of Columbia
Cause required to not renew
Newark, New Jersey
Cause required to not renew

Figures are the state rule, or the stronger city ordinance where one exists. Verify the current law for your own situation before relying on it.

Nashville adds nothing on renewal. Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-35-102 preempts local rent regulation, and no section we read sets a Davidson County renewal rule beyond the state URLTA.

Newer buildings in the Gulch, Wedgewood-Houston and Germantown often send renewal offers months ahead with a short window to accept. Counter in writing, and get any free month or waived fee on paper rather than from a leasing agent's word.

Does it name a renewal notice deadline you can count?

On a fixed term, your lease is where that date comes from. A clear date lets you plan to stay or to move.

Does it state the renewal rent, or the month-to-month rate?

A dollar figure lets you weigh staying against moving. “Then-current market rate” with no number does not.

Does it auto-renew unless you opt out?

With an auto-renewal paragraph, one missed opt-out date can bind you to another full term. Find that window before you sign.

Does only the tenant owe written notice?

On a month-to-month tenancy, § 66-28-512 gives the landlord and the tenant the same 30 days. A one-sided clause is worth asking about.

Sources

The law this guide relies on, and where to read it. Statutes change, so confirm the current text before you act on it.

  • Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512, read on codes.findlaw.com. Tennessee publishes its official code through LexisNexis; there is no free government edition. FindLaw marks its copy of this section current as of January 2, 2024; confirm the current text with the Tennessee General Assembly before relying on it.
Section 04

Red Flags to Watch Out For

  • Ten days used on a monthly tenancy

    10 days is the week-to-week figure. Month to month is 30 days' written notice under § 66-28-512. Match the count to your rent period.

  • A spoken notice to end month to month

    § 66-28-512 calls for written notice. Ask for it on paper, and give yours the same way.

  • Renewal rent left blank

    A promise to renew at “then-current market rate” names no figure. Ask for the dollar amount in writing before your deadline.

  • A verbal extension past your end date

    Staying on a spoken promise risks a holdover claim, and a willful bad-faith holdover exposes you to damages plus the landlord's attorney fees.

  • A fixed-term lease with no renewal wording

    If the lease names no date for deciding on renewal, you have nothing to count. Ask for a notice date in writing before you sign.

Section 05

Your Rights as a Nashville Tenant

  • 30 days on month to month

    § 66-28-512: 30 days' written notice from the landlord or from you. Week to week, 10 days.

  • Fixed term: no statutory notice found

    A fixed term ends on its own date. No Tennessee statute we read makes you give non-renewal notice either, unless your lease requires one.

  • URLTA covers Davidson County

    The state Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies in Tennessee's larger counties, and Davidson County is one of them.

  • Possession still runs through court

    Declining to renew does not remove you. A landlord who wants the unit back files in Davidson County General Sessions Court, not a lockout or a utility shut-off.

Section 06

What To Do - Step by Step

1

Name your tenancy type

Month to month, week to week or fixed term? § 66-28-512 sets notice for the first two. On a fixed term, check your lease for the timing.

2

Find your renewal deadline

Locate the renewal and notice paragraphs. Put the date in your phone, with a reminder a few weeks earlier.

3

Get the offer in writing

Ask by email for the renewal rent and terms, and keep the thread. A number a leasing agent says out loud is not a term of anything.

4

Price the Nashville market

Check similar units nearby before you answer. Your real leverage is a credible willingness to move.

5

Counter or give notice

Negotiate in writing, or give notice by your lease's deadline. On month to month, the notice period calculator counts the 30 days.

6

Get help if you're pressured

If anyone threatens a lockout or says you must leave at once, call the Legal Aid Society of Middle Tennessee. Possession is decided in court.

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Section 07

Frequently Asked Questions

how much notice does my landlord have to give if they're not renewing my lease in tennessee
On a fixed-term lease that ends on its date, no Tennessee statute we read requires non-renewal notice, so check your lease's renewal clause. On a month-to-month tenancy, either side gives 30 days' written notice under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-512.
can my landlord refuse to renew my lease for no reason in nashville
No section we read requires a reason or sets a just-cause rule, and Nashville adds no renewal rule of its own. Check your lease's renewal clause for any promise to renew.
how much can my landlord raise rent at renewal in nashville
No Tennessee statute we read caps a renewal increase, and § 66-35-102 preempts local rent regulation. Your renewal clause or offer names the new rent. Get it in writing and compare similar Nashville units.
what happens if i stay past my lease end date in nashville
You become a holdover. A willful bad-faith holdover exposes you to damages plus your landlord's attorney fees. If both sides continue month to month instead, ending it takes 30 days' written notice.

Lease Renewal rules near Tennessee

The same clause in the nearest states we cover.

KentuckyLouisvilleNotice to not renew30 daysRead the guide →North CarolinaCharlotteNotice to not renew7 daysRead the guide →MissouriKansas CityNotice to not renew1 monthRead the guide →IndianaIndianapolisNotice to not renew1 monthRead the guide →

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Legal Disclaimer: This guide is for general educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information reflects general Tennessee and Nashville law as of October 2026 but may not reflect recent changes. Consult a licensed attorney in Tennessee for advice about your specific situation.