• Rent Grace Period: 5 days to be eligible for charging late fees.^[1]
• Non-Payment of Rent: 14 days.^[2][3]
• Non-Compliance: 30 days.^[4]
• Illegal Behavior: 3 days.^[5]
• Prostitution or Drug Violations: Immediate.^[6]
• Termination (Month-to-Month Lease): 30 days.^[7]
• Eviction Lawsuit: Forcible entry and detainer.^[8]

Utility Shutoff – If a landlord willfully interrupts essential services to the tenant, the tenant may recover possession or terminate the rental agreement and recover damages as well as attorney’s fees from the landlord.^[9]

Changing the Locks – If a landlord unlawfully removes or excludes a tenant from the premises, the tenant may recover possession or terminate and rental agreement and recover damages as well as attorney’s fees from the landlord.^[9]

Detainer Summons – Used by landlords when a tenant fails to vacate a rental unit and an eviction is needed to remove the individual from the premises.

Writ of Possession – Issued by the court after a landlord prevails in an eviction lawsuit. This document proves that the landlord is entitled to reclaim possession of the rental unit.

Before beginning an eviction process in court, a landlord must notify the tenant in writing about a breach. Depending on the breach, the tenant may have 14 days or 30 days to cure. Other breaches are not curable, and the tenant must be out of the premises on the date specified. The types of notices are as follows:

• Immediate Notice to Quit (Prostitution or Drug Violations)
• 3-Day Notice to Quit (Illegal Behavior)
• 14-Day Notice to Quit (Non-Payment)
• 30-Day Notice to Quit (Non-Compliance)
• 30-Day Notice to Quit (Month-to-Month Tenancy)

If the tenant does not respond satisfactorily to the notices, the landlord may file a Detainer Summons with the local General Sessions Court. The General Sessions Court must have jurisdiction over the location of the rented premises. The court will set a hearing date.

Filing fees vary by local jurisdiction.

• Shelby County: $144.50^[10]
• Davidson County: $127.75^[11]
• Knox County: $191.50^[12]

The landlord must hire the local sheriff to serve the tenant with the Detainer Warrant.

The hearing will be at least six days from the date that the tenant was served. If the tenant fails to appear or the landlord proves their case, the court will issue a Writ of Possession, which will entitle the landlord to possession of the premises. This authorizes the sheriff to remove the tenant if they fail to vacate.