Does a home seller have to disclose the property’s condition in Tennessee?
In Tennessee, the owner selling a home with one to four dwelling units must give the buyer, before the purchase contract is accepted, the statutory residential property disclosure statement of known material defects, or an "as is" disclaimer statement only if the buyer waives the disclosure. For a misrepresentation on the statement, the buyer may sue for actual damages within one year or terminate the contract before closing, but the buyer may not terminate the contract merely because no statement was provided. Transfers under a court order, the first sale of a dwelling whose builder offers a written warranty, property sold at public auction and a property where the owner has not lived at any time within three years before the transfer are excluded. Federal law separately requires a lead-based paint disclosure when selling most homes built before 1978. This is Tenn. Code §§ 66-5-201, 66-5-202, 66-5-203, 66-5-208, 66-5-209.
| What | Tennessee |
|---|---|
| Seller disclosure | Required before the contract is accepted |
| Kind of rule | A written property condition statement is required |
What the statute says
“The owner of residential real property subject to this part shall deliver to the purchaser the written disclosure or disclaimer statement, if agreed upon by the purchaser required by this part prior to the acceptance of a real estate purchase contract.”
Quoted word for word from the section’s text.
Source
Tenn. Code §§ 66-5-201, 66-5-202, 66-5-203, 66-5-208, 66-5-209
Read the statute in the Tennessee Code (Tennessee General Assembly): capitol.tn.gov.
The linked sections open Justia’s free copy of the code, because the state’s own site has no stable address for each section.
Checked against the statute on November 15, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
This page states the state’s rule so the costs and paperwork of a sale can be checked against it before a contract is signed. An owner on Seayora keeps each property’s owners of record and its documents in one place.
Guides on this rule
- Seller Disclosure Requirements by State — Whether a home seller must give a written property condition disclosure, with the rule in each of the 48 jurisdictions with a statute.
Compare this rule in every state
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The same question in other states
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana