Cal. Civ. Code § 66-28-503
Fire or casualty damage.
Operative Text
(a) If the dwelling unit or premises are damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty to an extent that the use of the dwelling unit is substantially impaired, the tenant: (1) May immediately vacate the premises; and (2) Shall notify the landlord in writing within fourteen (14) days thereafter of the tenant's intention to terminate the rental agreement, in which case the rental agreement terminates as of the date of vacating. (b) If the dwelling unit or premises are damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty to an extent that restoring the dwelling unit or premises to its undamaged condition requires the tenant to vacate the premises, the landlord is authorized to terminate the rental agreement within fourteen (14) days of providing written notice to the tenant. (c) If the rental agreement is terminated, the landlord shall return all prepaid rent and security deposits recoverable under § 66-28-301. If the tenant vacates pursuant to this section, accounting for rent is to occur as of the date the tenant returns the keys to the landlord or has, in fact, vacated the dwelling unit or premises whichever date is earlier.
Under Tennessee Code § 66-28-503, when a fire or other casualty substantially impairs a dwelling unit's use, both the tenant and landlord have defined rights to end the rental agreement. A tenant may vacate immediately and must notify the landlord in writing within 14 days to formally terminate the lease as of the vacating date. If restoration requires the tenant to leave, the landlord may also terminate by providing written notice within 14 days. In either case, prepaid rent and eligible security deposits must be returned, with rent accounted for as of the date the tenant returns keys or actually vacates, whichever comes first.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under § 66-28-503 generally document the extent of fire or casualty damage promptly and assess whether restoration work requires the tenant to vacate. When termination is warranted on the landlord's side, a compliant operator provides written notice to the tenant within 14 days of that determination. Landlords also ensure that prepaid rent and any security deposit recoverable under § 66-28-301 are returned in a timely manner, with rent calculations tied to the date the tenant returns keys or vacates, whichever is earlier.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 66-28-503 of the Tennessee Residential Landlord and Tenant Act gives tenants the right to vacate immediately when fire or casualty substantially impairs the use of their home, provided they send written notice of their intent to terminate to the landlord within 14 days of vacating. Upon a valid termination under this section, tenants are entitled to the return of prepaid rent and any security deposit recoverable under § 66-28-301. Tenants who believe a landlord has not honored these obligations may consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or consulting with a housing attorney to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 29, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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