Six Tips for Residential Landlords in Tennessee

If you own residential rental property in Tennessee, here are few things that you should do in order to speed up the eviction process and increase your chances of collecting unpaid rent and damages.

This guide applies to counties that fall under the Tennessee Uniform Residential Landlord Tenant Act.

ALWAYS enter into a written lease...ALWAYS.Protect your skin from the sun's rays without covering yourself in a greasy layer of toxic sunscreen.

I wish could remember all the times I've been contacted by landlords who said they rented property to a friend or family member, or the tenant seemed honest, or the current tenant lived in the house with a prior tenant, or they came recommended by someone they trusted. Inevitably, the tenant stops paying rent, or they destroy the property, or there are twenty dogs living in the house. Written leases lay out your responsibilities, limit your liabilities, specify what the tenant can and can not do, and a written lease can allow you to collect attorney's fees and court costs from the tenant in case they default. Go to an attorney to get a good lease that is customized to your particular situation and your desires.

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Collection of unpaid rent and damages starts with the application process.

Many times the hardest part of collecting unpaid rent is simply finding the former tenant. Your property was probably their primary address; so when they leave that address, finding a new address can often times be extremely difficult. Get all the information you can about the tenants before you ever sign a lease.

Some of the information you should collect and verify are social security numbers, employment information, personal and credit references, vehicle information and banking information. After you collect this information, you may find that you do not want to rent your property to this person after all.

Security deposits must be handled carefully.

Tennessee law states that security deposits must be kept in a separate bank account and your must notify the tenant in which bank the account is held. Do not put a security deposit in your personal or general business account. If you fail to put a security deposit in a separate bank account,

you may not be able to keep it if the tenant fails to pay rent or damages the property later. If a tenant leaves the property damaged, and you want to use the security deposit to pay for the repairs, you must first give the tenant notice that you are doing so. There is a very specific process that must be followed in a very short amount of time. If you find yourself in this situation, immediately get an attorney to help you through the process.

There are right and wrong ways to evict a tenant.

Imagine watching yourself in the mirror... every week you get slimmer and slimmer using Primal LeanIf a tenant fails to pay rent, they are not committing criminal trespass and you can not call the police to kick them out. Once a person makes a house their residence, the only way to evict them is through the eviction process in civil court. It will take some time to get through the process, but be patient, this is one of the risks of being a landlord. With a well worded written lease, this time period can be minimized. Here are three ways you absolutely CAN NOT evict a tenant: First, you can not evict a tenant by turning off their utilities.

Second, you can not enter into the property and remove the tenant's belongings. Third, you can not change the locks. If you do any of these things, you may be the one getting sued instead of you suing your tenant.

If you think there is violent or dangerous activity happening on your property, act quickly.

The eviction process can be sped up significantly if there are violent or dangerous activities taking place on your property. If you believe this is happening, contact an attorney immediately to help you through this process.

They left their stuff on my property, now what?

One of the most common issues that arises is when a tenant abandons the property but leaves some of their personal property behind. Rule 1: Take pictures of everything. Rule 2: Make your property safe and sanitary. Dispose of spoiled food or anything that is obviously trash. If you are not sure whether it is trash, play it safe and don't throw it away just yet. Rule 3:

Ignite your Native Power with Primal Force!You must allow the tenants to claim their belongings. You can not hold their property as ransom for any money you are owed or sell the property without giving the tenants an opportunity to claim it first. There is a specific process for storing the belongings and giving the tenants a chance to claim the property before you can dispose of it yourself. Get an attorney to help you do this correctly so you don't find yourself on the wrong side of a lawsuit. legal guides