Tenant Rights & Legal Help
Knowing your rights as a renter, and where to get free legal help, can make a big difference if you are facing an eviction, a repair dispute, or discrimination. These organizations offer information, representation, or support in Memphis and Shelby County.
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Numbers to know
- 911Emergency Services (911)24/7
- 988988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline24/7
- 1-800-222-1222Poison Help Line24/7
- 2-1-1LINC 2-1-1 (Memphis Public Libraries & United Way)Library-based staff: Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
| Organization | What they offer | Who qualifies & cost | How to apply | Contact |
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| Clean Slate Memphis (Just City) official websiteShelby County, TN | A free online check of your Shelby County criminal record to see whether it can be expunged, which can help with housing and job applications. The site notes that most people who apply do not qualify, so read the requirements first. If you are eligible, you then file at the court clerk's office. | Shelby County records; generally limited convictions, completed sentence and court obligationsCost: Free eligibility check | Submit the online eligibility request; results arrive by email or letter. |
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| Community Legal Center official websiteMemphis / Shelby County, TN | A Memphis nonprofit law office offering civil legal help, elder law, immigration services, and a Pro Se Parents' Clinic to help parents handle family-court matters on their own. Fees are on a sliding scale. Use the contact form or call for an intake. | Contact for intake and eligibilityCost: Sliding scale | Call or use the website contact form. |
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| Fair Housing Council of Metropolitan Memphis (FHCMM) official websiteShelby and Fayette counties, TN; DeSoto and Marshall counties, MS; Crittenden County, AR; and others | A nonprofit that takes reports of housing discrimination and works on fair housing education, testing, enforcement, research, and advocacy. If you believe you were treated differently when renting or buying, you can contact them by phone or online. The office is currently open by appointment. | Check with providerCost: Check with provider | Call or use the online inquiry form or discrimination reporting page on fhcmm.org. The office is closed to walk-ins but available by appointment. |
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| HELP4TN (Tennessee Alliance for Legal Services) official websiteTennessee | A free Tennessee-wide legal information site with booklets, forms, videos, and chatbots, including one for landlord-tenant questions. It also links to a virtual legal advice clinic and runs a legal helpline for people age 60 and older. Good for learning your rights before you call a lawyer. | Open to Tennesseans; the senior legal helpline serves anyone age 60+ regardless of income or assetsCost: Free | Browse help4tn.org online. Seniors can call the helpline at 844-HELP4TN (844-435-7486). |
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| HUD Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity: File a Complaint official websiteUnited States | The federal route for reporting housing discrimination. You can report to HUD's Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity office online or by calling its intake line at 1-800-669-9777. There are time limits for filing, so report as soon as possible. This works alongside a local fair housing group. | Anyone who believes they experienced housing discriminationCost: Free | Report online through the link on hud.gov/reporthousingdiscrimination, or call the FHEO intake line at 1-800-669-9777. |
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| Memphis Area Legal Services (MALS) official websiteFayette, Lauderdale, Shelby and Tipton counties, TN | Free civil legal help for low-income, disabled, and elderly residents, including landlord-tenant and eviction matters. Start by applying through the online intake or calling the Memphis office. MALS also runs legal clinics, including one at the General Sessions Civil Court building and a Second Saturday clinic at the Benjamin Hooks Library. | Low-income, disabled, and elderly clients in Fayette, Lauderdale, Shelby, and Tipton countiesCost: Free | Use the Apply for Help button on malsi.org or call the Memphis office; check the clinic calendar on the website. |
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| Memphis Fair Housing Center (Memphis Area Legal Services) official websiteShelby, Fayette, Tipton and Lauderdale counties, TN | A MALS program offering free legal help with fair housing discrimination, predatory lending, landlord-tenant disputes, foreclosure, and homelessness issues. It is also a HUD-approved housing counseling agency. Call to apply for help. | Low-income families in Shelby, Fayette, Tipton and Lauderdale countiesCost: Free | Call (901) 432-4663 to apply for assistance. |
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| Shelby County General Sessions Court, Civil Division official websiteShelby County, TN | The court that handles eviction (forcible entry and detainer) cases and other civil claims up to $25,000. Use it for case information, court calendars, and forms. The court does not accept email filings. | Check with providerCost: Court fees may apply | File or look up cases in person, by mail, or by fax as listed on the court's website; use the case inquiry tool online. |
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Common questions
Does Tennessee's landlord-tenant law apply in Shelby County?
Yes. The Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act applies in Tennessee counties with populations over 75,000, and Shelby County is one of them. It covers topics such as habitable housing, landlord entry, and protection from discrimination.
My landlord won't make repairs. Can I stop paying rent?
Do not stop paying rent on your own. Legal information published by HELP4TN says you cannot withhold rent over repairs unless you follow the specific legal procedure. Notify your landlord of non-emergency repairs in writing, and for unsafe conditions contact local Building Codes or the Health Department. A legal aid office can walk you through your options.
I received an eviction notice or court papers. What now?
Do not ignore them, because deadlines start running as soon as you are served. Read the date and time on the papers, then call a legal aid provider right away: Memphis Area Legal Services at (901) 523-8822 or HELP4TN at 1-844-435-7486 (HELP4TN publishes free eviction information for Tennesseans). The General Sessions Civil Division, (901) 222-3400, can answer questions about court procedure, though court staff cannot give legal advice. If you need help with rent or utilities, call 2-1-1.
How do I report housing discrimination?
You can contact the Fair Housing Council of Metropolitan Memphis or the Memphis Fair Housing Center at Memphis Area Legal Services, or file a complaint with HUD. Federal housing law covers race, color, national origin, sex, religion, family status, and disability. HUD has a one-year filing deadline, so act promptly.