Landlord and Tenant - As introduced, changes, from three days to three business days from the date written notice is received by a tenant, the date on which a landlord may terminate a rental agreement if the tenant or another person on the premises with the tenant's consent willfully or intentionally commits a violent act; behaves in a manner which constitutes or threatens to be a real and present danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the life or property of other tenants or persons on the premises; creates a hazardous or unsanitary condition on the property that affects the health, safety, or welfare or the life or property of other tenants or persons on the premises; or refuses to vacate the premises after entering the premises as an unauthorized subtenant or other unauthorized occupant. - Amends TCA Title 5; Title 6; Title 7; Title 13; Title 56; Title 62; Title 66; Title 67 and Title 68.

114th Regular Session (2025-2026) Introduced by Adam Lowe

Reduces Tennessee landlord notice period for lease termination from three calendar days to three business days for serious tenant violations including violence or safety hazards.

Assigned to General Subcommittee of Senate Commerce and Labor Committee

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Legislative bill overview

SB 1092 shortens the notice period landlords must give tenants before terminating a lease for serious violations from three calendar days to three business days. The bill applies to situations involving violent acts, threats to safety, creation of hazardous conditions, or unauthorized occupancy on rental properties.

Why is this important

This change affects the practical timeline for lease termination in Tennessee. Reducing the notice period from three calendar days to three business days could mean landlords gain up to two additional days to proceed with eviction (since business days exclude weekends and holidays), which impacts both landlord enforcement speed and tenant response time to remediate violations.

Potential points of contention

Tenant protection vs. landlord efficiency: Shorter timelines may reduce tenants' ability to address violations or prepare for eviction, potentially disadvantaging tenants facing housing instability

Definition of violations: Terms like "threatens to be a real and present danger" and "hazardous or unsanitary condition" could be interpreted broadly or narrowly, creating inconsistent enforcement

Business day calculation complexity: The shift from calendar to business days adds administrative complexity and may create confusion about exact deadlines, potentially leading to legal disputes over notice validity