AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 66, Chapter 31, relative to self-service storage facilities.
Summary
HB1154 amends Tennessee’s self-service storage facility law to clarify how rental agreement changes and terminations are handled. If an owner delivers a written revision to the rental agreement and the occupant does not sign it, the occupant’s continued use of the storage unit for at least 30 days after delivery is treated as acceptance of the revised agreement. The bill also sets a minimum 15-day notice period after termination or nonrenewal before an occupant must remove personal property from the facility.
The bill further allows storage facility owners to place reasonable restrictions on access while an occupant is removing property, including limiting access to office hours, and it expressly permits owners to dispose of property left in the unit after the notice period stated in the termination notice. The act applies only to conduct occurring on or after July 1, 2025.
Impact
The bill updates Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 66, Chapter 31, by adding new rules governing self-service storage rental agreements, notice of termination or nonrenewal, occupant access during move-out, and disposal of abandoned property. It affects storage facility owners and occupants by clarifying when revised terms are accepted, how much notice must be given before removal of belongings, and when owners may lawfully dispose of remaining property.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and moved through the legislative process with little visible opposition. It received favorable recommendations in subcommittee and committee, and then passed the House on consent calendar with a unanimous 94-0 floor vote, suggesting general agreement on the need to clarify storage facility procedures.
Contention
The only notable recorded opposition came at the House Business and Utilities Subcommittee, where the measure passed 8-2, indicating some concern at the early stage. The available record does not include transcript discussion, so the specific objections are not stated, but likely points of concern would have centered on the balance between storage owners’ enforcement rights and occupants’ time to retrieve personal property, as well as the automatic acceptance of contract revisions through continued use.
T0 Amend The Law Concerning Self-service Storage Facilities; To Enforce An Unsigned Self-service Facility Storage Rental Agreement; And To Create A Termination Procedure For A Self-service Facility Storage Rental Agreement.
Self-Service Storage Facilities Act; rights of of self-storage facility operators further provided for, publication requirements for notice of sale of certain property revised
Self-Service Storage Facilities Act; rights of self-storage facility operators further provided for, publication requirements for notice of sale of certain property revised