Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Tennessee

The Residential Landlord and Tenant Act requires tenants to give written notice to a landlord to correct a problem. There is no question that the problem you have is one that is the obligation of the landlord to correct; however, without a written demand being given, the landlord has no legal obligation to correct the problem. Once the written notice is given, the landlord generally has 14 days to correct the problem. However, this is not the normal case.

Electrical service is deemed as an essential service under the Tennessee Landlord and Tenant Act. As such, the landlord is required to take all action to correct the problem regarding the electrical service. Nonetheless, you are still required to give a written demand to the landlord to correct the situation. The landlord must then have the problem corrected within a reasonable period of time which may, under some circumstances, be only a few days rather than the general period of 14 days. After a reasonable period of time, if the landlord fails or refuses to correct the problem regarding the establishment of an "essential service", you can then terminate the lease and move to another residence; call in an electrician and pay for the repair job and then reduce your next month's rent by the amount you paid to the electrician; or sue the landlord.