Shelbyville, TN asked in Personal Injury, Real Estate Law and Construction Law for Tennessee

Q: Where would I find various codes pertaining to rental structures and rights of a renter in the State of Tennessee?

I have a friend renting from a landlord in Fayetteville, Tennessee. There are numerous issues with the structure including, but not limited to black mold, poor electrical outlets (cannot safely plug in lamps, TV, etc.). It is my personal opinion, this are a fire hazard. In addition, problems with the structure include no door on the master bedroom, plumbing issues and electrical issues (wiring) in the bathroom causing light to flicker, if it comes on at all.

Due to the mold issue, my friend has become violently ill and had to go to a hospital last week. The test results there showed possible health problems could be a direct result of the mold issue. My friend has been out of work for two weeks so far (with medical excuse). To compound things, Landlord stopped by and dropped off a 14 day eviction notice (not a certified copy). My friend is not behind in her rent, but owes for the month of October. We would like know if there is any action we can take regarding these issues.

1 Lawyer Answer
Peter N. Munsing
Peter N. Munsing
Answered

A: Talk to your local legal services /legal aid office. Ask for their housing attorneys. Tell them you just want to know if any in their housing unit are in private practice.

Contact members of the Tenn Assn for Justice who handle mold issues--they give free consults.

Short answer--the town or city would have their health code; state code you could find at the county law library.

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