Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Tennessee

Being Sued

If I did not sign a written agreement or go over an oral lease am I liable for ''so called'' damages to the rental house? I am being sued for just over $7,000.00 for damages to a rental home that is 15 years old. Everything in it was original. I did replace the carpet with wood floors, but he had a leak in the wall which ruined the new flooring I had purchased. This guy replaced everything in the house and is wanting me to pay for it. What are the steps I need to take. I have no problem paying for what my dog did damages to, but it was nowhere near $7,000 worth. My dog did a little clawing on the walls which the landlord patched and said the entire house needed to be painted. Well, he wants to charge me even though he neglected to paint a sizeable area in the living room where the nieghbor accidentally ran into the house. None of that insurance money went for paint... Please help me because I do not have this kind of money to be handing out to a crook. Thanks.


Asked on 6/12/08, 10:20 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Nanette Gould Nanette J. Gould, Attorney at Law

Re: Being Sued

You will be held responsible for damages to a rental property but if the matter went to small claims court the landlord would be required to prove that the amount sought is reasonable for the damages he claims are attributable to you.

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Answered on 6/23/08, 9:58 am


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