Tennessee security deposit demand letter
A demand letter that cites Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 (URLTA counties only, § 66-28-102) is the step that gets most deposits back - landlords settle when they see you know the statute. Below is a free template; the generator fills in your amounts, dates, and violations for you.
The template
Replace every [bracketed] field, print two copies, sign, and send one by certified mail with return receipt. Keep the receipt - it proves the date of your demand.
[Your name] [Your current address] [Date] [Landlord or property manager name] [Landlord's address] SENT VIA CERTIFIED MAIL - RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED RE: Demand for return of security deposit - [rental property address] Dear [Landlord]: I vacated the above rental property on [move-out date] and paid a security deposit of $[deposit amount]. Under Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 (URLTA counties only, § 66-28-102) (Tennessee Security Deposit Law), you may retain only lawful, documented deductions. Under § 66-28-301(c), a landlord who fails to keep the deposit in the required separate account or to provide the itemized damage listing forfeits the right to retain any portion of the deposit. DEMAND I demand payment of $[amount improperly withheld], the amount improperly withheld from my deposit. Be advised that Forfeiture only: no multiplier, no flat penalty, no fee award. Should this matter proceed to court, I will seek all damages the statute allows, plus court costs. Please deliver payment to the address above no later than [date 14 days from today]. If I do not receive full payment by that date, I will file suit in General Sessions Court (civil warrant) without further notice. I have retained documentation of the property's condition, our correspondence, and this demand. Sincerely, [Your signature] Enclosures: [list your evidence - photos, lease, itemized statement]
A draft for you to review, edit, and sign - verify every citation against the current statute · not legal advice
A template can't check your case. The generator can.
The free analysis reviews each deduction against Tennessee's wear-and-tear rules, spots procedural violations, computes the statutory damages you can demand, and writes the letter with your numbers and the exact citations - ready to print and sign.
Build my case - free analysis →Make the letter stronger
- State a number, not a feeling. Demand a specific dollar amount and say how you got it. Vague letters get vague replies.
- Cite the statute by section. Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 (URLTA counties only, § 66-28-102) tells the landlord you'll be credible in court. Forfeiture only: no multiplier, no flat penalty, no fee award.
- Set a deadline and a consequence. 14 days to pay, then you file in General Sessions Court (civil warrant) (handles claims up to $25,000). Then actually do it.
- Mention your evidence. Photos, the lease, texts. You don't need to attach everything - naming it is often enough to change the landlord's math.
Frequently asked questions
What should a Tennessee security deposit demand letter include?
Your move-out date, the deposit amount, the amount withheld, a cite to Tenn. Code Ann. § 66-28-301 (URLTA counties only, § 66-28-102), a specific dollar demand, a payment deadline (14 days is customary), and notice that you will file in General Sessions Court (civil warrant) if ignored. Send it by certified mail with return receipt and keep the receipt.
Do I need a lawyer to send a demand letter in Tennessee?
No. A demand letter is a routine self-help document, and deposit disputes are exactly what small claims courts are designed to handle without lawyers. A letter that cites the statute and states a deadline is usually taken seriously on its own.
What happens if the landlord ignores the letter?
You can file in General Sessions Court (civil warrant) (claims up to $25,000; filing fees varies by county (~$42 base + surcharges; some counties ~$190 incl. service)). Your demand letter and the certified-mail receipt become evidence that you asked first - courts expect that, and it makes wrongful withholding look deliberate.
What penalties does Tennessee law allow if the withholding was wrongful?
Forfeiture only: no multiplier, no flat penalty, no fee award. The landlord loses the right to retain any portion if the escrow-account or damage-listing requirements were not met (§ 66-28-301(c)). CRITICAL: URLTA applies only in counties over 75,000 population (2010 census) - 17 counties incl. Davidson, Shelby, Knox, Hamilton; elsewhere there is NO state deposit statute.