Cal. Civ. Code § 66-28-509
Landlord liens.
Operative Text
A contracted lien or security interest on behalf of the landlord in the tenant's household goods shall not be enforceable unless perfected by a Uniform Commercial Code filing with the secretary of state. All other liens are hereby expressly prohibited under this chapter. The landlord shall be responsible for releasing the lien at expiration or termination of the lease.
Under Tennessee Code Ann. § 66-28-509, any lien or security interest a landlord holds against a tenant's personal property and household goods is only legally valid if it has been properly recorded through a Uniform Commercial Code (UCC) filing with the Tennessee Secretary of State. Any other type of lien a landlord might attempt to assert against a tenant's belongings is expressly prohibited by this chapter. Once the lease ends—whether by expiration or early termination—the landlord is required by law to release any such lien.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 66-28-509, landlords who wish to hold a contractual lien or security interest in a tenant's household goods must ensure that interest is perfected through a formal UCC filing with the Tennessee Secretary of State before it can be enforced. Compliant operators do not attempt to assert any other type of lien against tenant property, as all other liens are expressly prohibited under this chapter. Upon the expiration or termination of a lease, a compliant landlord takes the necessary steps to formally release any UCC-filed lien in a timely manner.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tennessee Code Ann. § 66-28-509 provides tenants with clear protections against improper landlord liens on household goods—any lien not perfected through a UCC filing with the Secretary of State is legally unenforceable, and all other liens are expressly prohibited. If a landlord attempts to seize, hold, or assert an unperfected or otherwise prohibited lien on personal belongings, a tenant may be able to raise this statutory violation as a defense in court. Tenants who believe a landlord has improperly asserted a lien on their property may consider consulting a tenant-rights organization or reviewing resources from the Tennessee Secretary of State's office to understand what filings, if any, exist against their goods.
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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