Breaking a Lease in Tennessee
Tennessee rules on breaking a lease for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-22.
Short answer: Statewide, for leases entered or renewed on or after July 1, 2021: a tenant who is, or whose household member is, a domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking victim may end the lease without liability for future rent or early termination fees by giving the landlord written notice… T.C.A. 66-7-112; 66-7-109(e)
The rules in Tennessee
| Ending a lease: domestic violence | Statewide, for leases entered or renewed on or after July 1, 2021: a tenant who is, or whose household member is, a domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking victim may end the lease without liability for future rent or early termination fees by giving the landlord written notice requesting release, a mutually agreed release date within 30 days of the notice, and either a valid order of protection (issued/extended after a hearing finding victim status) or documentation of a criminal charge based on a police report; documentation must be dated within 60 days before the notice. The tenant must vacate within 30 days (or as agreed) and owes rent for the full month in which the tenancy ends plus prior obligations. The landlord may not reveal the tenant's identifying/location information without written consent. Separately, where domestic abuse is the basis for termination, only the perpetrator may be evicted once the victim has a qualifying order of protection. Official code published only via LexisNexis; text verified on a public mirror (code year 2024). 66-7-109(e) text: https://codes.findlaw.com/tn/title-66-property/tn-code-sect-66-7-109/. Source: T.C.A. 66-7-112; 66-7-109(e) |
|---|---|
| Ending a lease: military, medical, death | Disability: a person who is permanently and totally disabled (as defined in 71-4-1102) may terminate the lease of a primary residence without penalty or further rent after moving out if accepted as a resident of a public housing facility, by presenting written evidence of acceptance; the landlord must acknowledge in writing. Does not apply if the landlord made significant accessibility modifications to the unit. Official code published only via LexisNexis; text verified on a public mirror (code year 2024). Source: T.C.A. 66-7-110 |
Related questions
- Can I break my lease because of domestic violence?
- Can I break my lease for military orders, medical reasons or a death?
Tennessee vs. neighboring states
| State | Ending a lease: domestic violence | Ending a lease: military, medical, death |
|---|---|---|
| Tennessee | Statewide, for leases entered or renewed on or after July 1, 2021: a tenant who is, or whose household member is, a domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking victim may end the lease without liability for future rent or early termination fees by giving the landlord written notice requesting release, a mutually agreed release date within 30 days of the notice, and either a valid order of protection (issued/extended after a hearing finding victim status) or documentation of a criminal charge based on a police report; documentation must be dated within 60 days before the notice. The tenant must vacate within 30 days (or as agreed) and owes rent for the full month in which the tenancy ends plus prior obligations. The landlord may not reveal the tenant's identifying/location information without written consent. Separately, where domestic abuse is the basis for termination, only the perpetrator may be evicted once the victim has a qualifying order of protection. T.C.A. 66-7-112; 66-7-109(e) | Disability: a person who is permanently and totally disabled (as defined in 71-4-1102) may terminate the lease of a primary residence without penalty or further rent after moving out if accepted as a resident of a public housing facility, by presenting written evidence of acceptance; the landlord must acknowledge in writing. Does not apply if the landlord made significant accessibility modifications to the unit. T.C.A. 66-7-110 |
| Alabama | No statute — Alabama has no state law letting domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking survivors end a lease early. Ala. Code Title 35, Ch. 9A (checked) | No state-law early termination right found in the Alabama URLTA for military service beyond the federal SCRA, medical/disability, seniors, or tenant death. Ala. Code Title 35, Ch. 9A (checked) |
| Arkansas | No statutory right to end a lease early. Ark. Code § 18-16-112 protects victims of domestic abuse whose status is documented by a court order. A landlord may not terminate, refuse to renew, refuse to lease, or retaliate because of the tenant's or a household member's victim status. With the landlord's prior consent and at the tenant's expense, the locks may be changed, and the new key must go to the other party. The landlord may evict the abuser. The statute does not let the victim end the lease or escape liability for rent. Ark. Code § 18-16-112 | Not verified yet |
| Georgia | A tenant may end a residential lease when a civil family violence order, civil stalking order, criminal family violence order, or criminal stalking order has been issued protecting the tenant or the tenant's minor child (also available to a protected joint occupant). Give the landlord written notice with a copy of the order (plus a police report if the order is an ex parte temporary protective order); termination takes effect 30 days after notice. Tenant owes prorated rent to the effective date plus amounts already past due, but no other fees, rent or damages for the early termination; no damages if terminated 14+ days before move-in. Cannot be waived. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-23 | Service members (active duty in the regular or reserve armed forces, Coast Guard, or Georgia National Guard on federal orders of 90+ days) may end a lease on written notice effective at least 30 days after the landlord receives it, with a copy of orders or a commanding officer's verification, for: permanent change of station 35+ miles away; release from active/state active duty when the rental is 35+ miles from the home of record; orders to, or eligibility for, government quarters (if staying would forfeit housing allowance); temporary duty or state active-duty orders over 60 days to 35+ miles away; or changed orders before move-in. Prorated rent only; nothing if 14+ days before occupancy. If the service member dies on active duty, an adult immediate family member may terminate with a death certificate. Cannot be waived. No state statute for medical, senior, or tenant-death termination was located. O.C.G.A. § 44-7-22 |
| Kentucky | Statewide (leases created or renewed on/after June 29, 2017). A tenant protected by a domestic violence order (KRS 403.740) or interpersonal protective order (KRS 456.060) may terminate by giving the landlord written notice of termination effective on a stated date at least 30 days after the landlord receives it, with a copy of the order. If the order was obtained before signing the lease, the tenant must also show a safety concern arising after the lease was signed. The tenant owes rent prorated to the termination date, is not liable for other rent or fees due solely to early termination, may not receive a negative credit entry or reference for it, and owes no damages if terminating 14+ days before occupancy. The restrained person is liable to the landlord for the landlord's economic losses. Protected tenants may also rekey or replace locks at their own expense after informing the landlord. KRS 383.300 | No Kentucky statute was found in KRS Chapter 383 giving early-termination rights for medical reasons, seniors moving to care, military service (beyond federal SCRA), or tenant death. KRS Chapter 383 (section list checked) |
| Mississippi | Not verified yet | Not verified yet |
| Missouri | Limited. Missouri has no notice-based lease-break procedure. Instead, in a landlord's action under Ch. 441, 534 or 535, a tenant who has moved out has an affirmative defense and is not liable for rent after vacating if the court finds (by a preponderance of the evidence) that the tenant was, or was in imminent danger of becoming, a victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking, and the tenant notified the landlord and gave any requested documentation. Documentation can be a statement signed under penalty of perjury by a victim-service, health-care, or mental-health professional (also signed by the victim), or a police, court, or administrative agency record. The landlord may charge a reasonable termination fee. Victims also cannot be denied tenancy, evicted, or found in violation of a lease because of the abuse. RSMo 441.920 | Military: an active-duty member of the U.S. Armed Forces, or a Missouri Army or Air National Guard member on full-time duty or serving as a civil service technician, may end a residential lease on 15 days' written notice after receiving permanent change of station orders, temporary duty orders over 90 days to a location at least 25 miles away, discharge or release from duty, or orders to live in government quarters. A copy of the orders (or a commanding officer's letter) must be given before the termination date. Rent is due through the termination date, and the deposit and pet deposit must be refunded in full if the tenant otherwise complied with the lease and 535.300. No state statute was found for medical/disability, senior, or tenant-death terminations. RSMo 41.944 |
| North Carolina | A 'protected tenant' (victim of domestic violence, sexual assault, or stalking) may end the lease with written notice effective at least 30 days after the landlord receives it. The notice must include one of: a non-ex parte protective order under chapter 50B or 50C, a criminal no-contact order, or an Address Confidentiality Program card. DV and sexual assault victims must also include a safety plan dated during the tenancy, from a qualifying DV or sexual assault program, that recommends relocation. The tenant owes rent prorated to the termination date and no other rent or fees for ending early. Ending the lease 14+ days before move-in means no damages or penalties. Remaining tenants stay bound, and an abuser excluded by court order stays liable. This right cannot be waived. N.C. Gen. Stat. § 42-45.1 | Military: a servicemember with permanent change of station orders 50+ miles away, or who is prematurely or involuntarily discharged or released from active duty, may end the lease with written notice effective at least 30 days after receipt. Deployment of 90+ days is also covered, effective the sooner of 30 days after the next rent due date or 45 days after notice. The notice must include the orders or a commanding officer's verification. If the member dies on active duty, an immediate family member or estate representative may end the lease. Liquidated damages are allowed only if under 9 months of the tenancy have been completed: up to one month's rent if under 6 months, or half a month's rent if 6-9 months. Foreclosure: a tenant in a property with fewer than 15 units being sold in foreclosure may end the lease effective 10-90 days after the sale date. No state-law right for medical reasons, disability, or seniors was found. On a tenant's death, the landlord may use an affidavit process to remove a sole occupant's belongings (§ 42-36.3). N.C. Gen. Stat. §§ 42-45, 42-45.2, 42-36.3 |
| Virginia | Yes. A tenant who is a victim of family abuse, sexual abuse or criminal sexual assault, stalking, or human trafficking may terminate if, during the current lease, the victim obtained a qualifying protective order (and gives notice while it is in effect), or a perpetrator was convicted or charged (warrant, summons, information or indictment) for such a crime against the victim. The tenant serves written notice of termination effective 28 days after service, with a copy of the order or charging/conviction document. Rent is owed through the effective date; no liquidated damages. Co-tenants remain liable; if the perpetrator is the remaining sole tenant, the landlord may terminate and pursue the perpetrator for damages. Va. Code § 55.1-1236 | Military: members of the U.S. Armed Forces or National Guard on full-time duty (or NG civil service technicians) may terminate upon permanent change of station orders, temporary duty orders over 3 months, discharge/release, orders to government quarters, or a stop-movement order of 30+ days preventing occupancy. Written notice effective no sooner than 30 days after the next rent due date, with a copy of orders or a commanding officer's letter before the termination date; no liquidated damages. Tenant death: a lease with a sole tenant still residing is deemed terminated on the date of death; the estate remains liable for actual damages subject to mitigation. Va. Code § 55.1-1235; § 55.1-1256(C) |
City rules that may add to state law
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Breaking a Lease in Tennessee FAQ
Can a domestic violence survivor break a lease in Tennessee?
Statewide, for leases entered or renewed on or after July 1, 2021: a tenant who is, or whose household member is, a domestic abuse, sexual assault or stalking victim may end the lease without liability for future rent or early termination fees by giving the landlord written notice requesting release, a mutually agreed release date within 30 days of the notice, and either a valid order of protection (issued/extended after a hearing finding victim status) or documentation of a criminal charge based on a police report; documentation must be dated within 60 days before the notice. The tenant must vacate within 30 days (or as agreed) and owes rent for the full month in which the tenancy ends plus prior obligations. The landlord may not reveal the tenant's identifying/location information without written consent. Separately, where domestic abuse is the basis for termination, only the perpetrator may be evicted once the victim has a qualifying order of protection. (T.C.A. 66-7-112; 66-7-109(e))
When can a tenant break a lease without penalty in Tennessee?
Disability: a person who is permanently and totally disabled (as defined in 71-4-1102) may terminate the lease of a primary residence without penalty or further rent after moving out if accepted as a resident of a public housing facility, by presenting written evidence of acceptance; the landlord must acknowledge in writing. Does not apply if the landlord made significant accessibility modifications to the unit. (T.C.A. 66-7-110)
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.