Can We Legally Break Our Lease In Nashville, Tn Due To Ongoing Safety Issues And Health Concerns?
My partner and I are renting a single-family home in Nashville, TN through a property management company. Since moving in, we’ve had multiple major issues affecting habitability, including:
- No heat for 5 days upon move-in: We were told to only set up electric service, but the furnace was gas. We had to stay in a hotel for 5 days (they reimbursed us).
- Gas leak + red tag: A leak was found after we returned. The gas company shut off service and issued a red tag.
- No working showers: Neither shower has hot water due to incorrect valve installation. Still not resolved.
- Smoke detectors randomly triggering and improper installation.
- Two exterior doors can be pushed open when “locked.”
- General signs the home was not ready for occupancy (unsafe locks, poor prep, delayed utilities, etc.).
The landlord has responded to individual repair requests, but the issues have created a pattern that we feel has made the home unsafe and uninhabitable, especially for my partner, who has a heart condition. We are documenting everything and may get a doctor’s note indicating that the living conditions are harmful to her health.
We’ve sent a formal request to be released from the lease early without penalty. The lease includes a clause about giving two months’ notice to vacate and also references a two-month early termination fee — but it’s unclear if both apply or just one.
Questions:
- Do we have legal grounds to break the lease due to the safety and health concerns described?
- Would a doctor’s letter supporting the health risk help our case?
- If the landlord refuses to release us, what should we expect if we vacate and stop paying?
- Are there any specific TN tenant laws or case precedents we should know?
We’re not trying to sue — just want to move out safely and not be penalized for conditions we didn’t cause.
Location: Nashville, TN
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