This article is part of our Moving to Nashville guide.
Last updated October 20, 2026
Renting an apartment in Nashville works much like it does in other big US cities: you find a unit, apply with proof of income and ID, pass a credit and background check, pay a deposit and sign a lease, usually for a year. A typical 1-bedroom lists for about $1,613 a month (Zumper, October 2026), and rents are roughly flat to down from a year ago. Tennessee law caps late fees but not security deposits, and state law bans local rent control. Below is how each step works, what it costs, and what the law in Davidson County says.
How much does it cost to rent an apartment in Nashville?
The median asking rent for a 1-bedroom in Nashville is $1,613 a month, and a 2-bedroom is about $1,850 (Zumper, October 2026). Zumper shows 1-bedroom rents unchanged from a year earlier and 2-bedroom rents lower. Across all unit sizes, Zumper’s median is $1,995 (Zumper, October 2026).
Other rent trackers give different numbers. Depending on the source, a Nashville 1-bedroom runs between about $1,230 (Apartment List) and $1,700 (RentCafe).
| Source | 1-bedroom | 2-bedroom | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zumper (October 2026) | $1,613 | $1,850 | Median asking rent on current listings |
| RentCafe (September 2026) | $1,695 | $2,060 | Average rent in buildings with 50 or more units |
| Apartment List (October 2026) | $1,228 | $1,366 | Median rent across a broader mix of older and newer units |
Why do the rent numbers differ so much?
They measure different things. Zumper looks at what landlords are asking right now on its listings. RentCafe uses Yardi Matrix data from large, professionally managed buildings with 50 or more units, which tend to be newer and pricier. Apartment List uses its own method that covers a wider range of buildings, including older stock, so its median comes out lower. If you want a newer building downtown or in Midtown, expect prices closer to RentCafe’s; for older complexes farther out, Apartment List’s figure is the better guide.
All three point the same way: rents are roughly flat to down from a year ago. Apartment List puts its overall Nashville median at $1,370, down 2.3% year over year (Apartment List, October 2026). For the full budget picture, including taxes, utilities and transport, see how much it costs to live in Nashville.
Does it matter whether you rent in Nashville or a suburb?
Yes, for a few practical reasons. Nashville is a consolidated city-county government called Metro Nashville-Davidson County. Franklin, Brentwood, Murfreesboro, Hendersonville, Smyrna and Mt. Juliet are separate cities in other counties, with their own schools, taxes and utility providers. The utility setup and tenant law notes in this post are for Davidson County. Tennessee’s landlord-tenant act applies county by county based on population, so if you rent in a suburb, check that it applies in that county.
Rent also varies a lot by neighborhood inside Nashville. Our guide to the best Nashville neighborhoods for newcomers compares areas with average rents for each.
When is the best time to look for an apartment in Nashville?
Rents in Nashville follow a seasonal pattern. Apartment List reports that rents usually rise over the summer and fall in winter, and that recent winter dips have been especially steep (Apartment List, August 2026). Its Nashville median hit a recent low of $1,335 in March 2026, compared with a peak of $1,542 in July 2022 (Apartment List, August 2026).
So if your move date is flexible, late winter has recently been the cheapest time to sign. Summer brings more listings but more competition and higher asking rents. Whatever the season, start serious searching a month or two before your move, and tour the unit in person or by live video before you apply. If you are planning the whole move, our step-by-step Nashville moving checklist shows where the apartment search fits.
What do you need to apply for a Nashville apartment?
A Nashville apartment application usually asks for the same things you would need anywhere in the US:
- Photo ID for every adult on the lease.
- Proof of income, such as recent pay stubs, an offer letter if you are moving for a new job, or bank statements.
- Permission for a credit check and a background check, often including past evictions.
- Rental history, such as past addresses and landlord contacts.
- Pet details, if you have one, since many buildings have breed or weight limits and extra pet fees.
How much income do you need to rent in Nashville?
A common rule of thumb is that your gross monthly income should be at least three times the monthly rent (Caretaker, accessed October 2026). Each landlord sets its own standard, so ask before you pay to apply. At Zumper’s median 1-bedroom rent of $1,613, three times the rent works out to about $4,840 a month, or roughly $58,000 a year before taxes (our calculation from Zumper, October 2026). If you fall short, some buildings accept a co-signer or guarantor, or a larger deposit.
What happens if a screening report gets you turned down?
A landlord that denies you because of a tenant screening report must tell you. The notice has to name the screening company and explain your right to a free copy of the report and to dispute errors. You can ask for that free copy within 60 days. The same rules apply if the report leads the landlord to ask for a co-signer, a bigger deposit or higher rent than other applicants pay (Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, October 2025).
What fees should you expect when you apply?
Most buildings charge an application fee per adult, and many also charge an administration fee or a holding fee to take the unit off the market once you are approved. Amounts vary by building. Before you pay anything, ask in writing what each fee covers and whether any of it is refundable or credited toward your deposit or first month’s rent. Pay only through the building’s official portal or office, never by wire transfer, gift card or crypto (more on scams below).
How do security deposits work in Tennessee?
Davidson County is covered by Tennessee’s Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA). The act applies in counties that had more than 75,000 people in the 2010 Census, and Davidson County is far above that (T.C.A. § 66-28-102, 2025 code). Here is what the act says about deposits (T.C.A. § 66-28-301, 2025 code):
- There is no cap. State law does not limit how much a landlord can charge as a security deposit.
- It must be held separately. The landlord has to keep deposits in an account used only for that purpose at a regulated bank or lender, and tell you where the account is (not the account number).
- You can attend the move-out inspection. The landlord can require it on the day you leave or within 4 days after. If you both inspect, you each sign a list of damage and estimated repair costs. If you disagree with an item, put it in writing.
- Damage claims have a time limit. The landlord can only charge for physical damage found within 30 days after you move out, or within 7 days after a new tenant moves in, whichever comes first.
- There is no fixed refund deadline. The law does not set a number of days for returning the deposit. Instead, the landlord sends a notice of your refund to your last known address. If you do not respond within 60 days of that notice, the landlord can keep the money.
That last point matters for people leaving the state. Give your landlord a forwarding address in writing when you move out, and watch for the refund notice.
What does Tennessee law say about late fees, notice and rent increases?
How much can a landlord charge for late rent?
Tennessee gives you a 5-day grace period, counting the day rent is due, before a late fee can be charged. If the fifth day falls on a Sunday or legal holiday, paying on the next business day avoids the fee. Any late fee cannot be more than 10% of the past-due rent (T.C.A. § 66-28-201, 2025 code). On a $1,613 rent, that caps the fee at about $161 (our calculation).
How much notice do you need to give to move out?
For a month-to-month rental, either side must give written notice at least 30 days before the next rent date. For week-to-week, it is 10 days (T.C.A. § 66-28-512, 2025 code). A fixed-term lease, such as a 12-month lease, usually ends on its end date, but read the lease. Many require written notice before the end of the term and switch you to month-to-month, often at a higher rent, if you do not give it.
Can your landlord raise the rent, and is there rent control?
There is no rent control in Nashville, and state law bans local governments from passing it (T.C.A. § 66-35-102, 2025 code). Tennessee law sets no special notice period for rent increases. In practice, a landlord can raise the rent when your lease comes up for renewal, or on a month-to-month rental with notice that matches the 30-day termination notice. Your lease may promise more notice than that, so check it. The rules here come from the 2025 code as published online, which can lag behind new laws, so check anything important with a lawyer.
Are Nashville apartments offering move-in specials?
Yes, and they are common. In July 2026, 47% of Nashville apartment communities offered at least one free month of rent, up from 36% a year earlier (Apartment List, August 2026). That share has grown, so ask every building you tour what it is offering.
A special can save real money, but read the details:
- Work out the effective rent. One free month on a 12-month lease at $1,800 means you pay $19,800 for the year, or $1,650 a month on average. Compare buildings on that number.
- Ask how the discount is applied. Some buildings take it off the first month, some spread it across the lease, and some apply it later.
- Ask about renewal. Your renewal offer will usually be based on the full listed rent, not the discounted average, so a big special can mean a big jump in year two.
- Check the fine print. Specials often apply only to certain units, lease lengths or move-in dates, and some must be paid back if you break the lease.
- Get it in writing. Make sure the special appears in your lease or a signed addendum.
How long are Nashville apartment leases?
A 12-month lease is the usual starting point. Some buildings also offer shorter or longer terms, but the monthly price often changes with the length, so ask for quotes on several terms. Before you sign, check these parts of the lease:
- Breaking the lease. What it costs to leave early, and whether there is a fixed buyout fee.
- Renewal and notice. How much notice you must give before the end date, and what happens if you do not.
- Fees beyond rent. Parking, pet rent, trash, amenity fees and any monthly technology or package fees.
- Utilities. Which ones are in your name and which the building bills you for.
Which utilities do you set up yourself in Nashville?
In most Nashville apartments you put electricity in your own name, and sometimes water and gas too. Ask your building which ones apply. Some buildings bill water, sewer and trash back to you through the rent portal instead.
| Utility | Provider | How to start |
|---|---|---|
| Electricity | Nashville Electric Service (NES) | Online, by phone (615-736-6900) or in person, at least one business day ahead. $250 deposit unless a credit check waives it; $20 connection fee on the first bill. |
| Water and sewer | Metro Water Services (most of Davidson County) | Call 615-862-4600. Residential initiation fee: $35 for same-day service, $25 for a later day. |
| Natural gas | Spire (formerly Piedmont Natural Gas) | Only if your unit has gas service. Customer service: 800-752-7504. |
How much is an electric bill in Nashville?
NES says an average home using 1,000 kWh in a month pays about $142 (NES, September 2026 rates). Its fuel charge changes every month, so your bill will move with it, and an apartment often uses less than that. NES’s $250 deposit is credited back to your account after 12 months of on-time payments (NES, October 2026).
Who provides natural gas now that Piedmont is gone?
Spire became the natural gas provider for Piedmont Natural Gas’s Tennessee customers, in and around Nashville, on March 31, 2026 (Spire, October 2026). Piedmont still handles billing and accounts during the transition, which Spire expects to finish in 2027; WSMV reported a target of summer 2027 (WSMV, June 2026). If you see “Piedmont” on a move-in sheet, it now means Spire.
Do you need renters insurance in Nashville?
Many apartment leases require it, and it is a good idea even when yours does not. Your landlord’s policy covers the building, not your belongings. The Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance says renters policies average about $15 to $30 a month, depending on where you live, the size of your unit and what you own (TDCI, August 2026). A typical policy covers:
- Your belongings if they are damaged, destroyed or stolen, often even away from home.
- Liability if a guest is hurt in your apartment.
- Extra living costs if a covered loss, such as a storm, makes your unit unlivable.
Two things to check: renters policies generally do not cover flood damage, which needs a separate policy, and “replacement cost” coverage pays for new items while “actual cash value” pays only what your used items are worth (TDCI, August 2026).
How do you avoid rental scams in Nashville?
People moving from far away are easy targets, because they often cannot see a unit in person. The Federal Trade Commission lists these warning signs (FTC, June 2026):
- A listing copied from a real one, with someone else’s contact details.
- Rent well below what similar units nearby cost.
- An “owner” who is out of the country or has excuses for not showing the unit.
- Pressure to decide and pay fast.
- Requests for your Social Security number, license photo or pay stubs before you have agreed to rent.
- Requests to send credit score screenshots or sign up for a paid credit service. Real landlords usually pull credit themselves.
- Requests to pay by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency. That money is usually gone for good.
To check a listing, search the address with the owner’s or company’s name, look for the property on the management company’s own website, and contact the company using details you found yourself. The FTC notes that a video tour alone does not prove a listing is real, so have someone you trust visit if you cannot. For private landlords, you can check who owns a property on the county’s property records. Report scams to the listing site, local police, ReportFraud.ftc.gov and the Tennessee attorney general (FTC, June 2026).
Where can you compare specific Nashville apartment buildings?
Our sister site, Nashville Apartment Buildings, is a free directory of 232 apartment buildings in Nashville. Each listing shows the year built, building size, pet policy and amenities. There are no paid listings and no rents, so check current prices and specials with each building directly. Once you have a shortlist, our first 30 days in Nashville guide covers what to do after you move in.
Frequently asked questions about renting an apartment in Nashville
Is there a limit on security deposits in Nashville?
No. Tennessee law does not cap security deposits. It does require the landlord to keep the deposit in a separate account, tell you where it is held, and follow inspection and notice rules when you move out (T.C.A. § 66-28-301, 2025 code).
Does Nashville have rent control?
No. Tennessee law bars cities and counties from passing rent control (T.C.A. § 66-35-102, 2025 code). Landlords can raise rent at renewal, or on a month-to-month rental with 30 days’ notice.
Can I rent a Nashville apartment before I move?
Yes. Many buildings take applications and leases online. Use a live video tour, have someone you trust visit if possible, and pay only through the building’s official channels to avoid scams (FTC, June 2026).
What income do I need to rent in Nashville?
Many landlords look for gross monthly income of about three times the rent. For a median 1-bedroom at $1,613 (Zumper, October 2026), that is about $4,840 a month. Standards vary, so ask each building. For the rest of your budget, see our Moving to Nashville start-here guide.
Sources
- Rent: Zumper, Nashville, TN Rent Prices (October 2026)
- Rent cross-check: RentCafe, Nashville, TN Rental Market Trends (September 2026)
- Rent cross-check: Apartment List, Nashville, TN Rent Report (October 2026)
- Seasonality and concessions: Apartment List, Nashville Is Still A Renter’s Market, But It May Be Turning A Corner (August 2026)
- Income rule of thumb: Caretaker, How Much Income Is Required to Rent an Apartment? (accessed October 2026)
- Screening rights: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, What should I do if my rental application is denied due to a tenant screening report? (October 2025)
- Where URLTA applies: Justia, Tennessee Code § 66-28-102 (2025 code)
- Security deposits: Justia, Tennessee Code § 66-28-301 (2025 code)
- Late fees: Justia, Tennessee Code § 66-28-201 (2025 code)
- Notice to end a tenancy: Justia, Tennessee Code § 66-28-512 (2025 code)
- Rent control ban: Justia, Tennessee Code § 66-35-102 (2025 code)
- Electricity setup: Nashville Electric Service, Start/Stop Service (October 2026)
- Electricity rates: Nashville Electric Service, Rates (September 2026 rates)
- Water setup: Metro Water Services, Request, Transfer or Terminate Service (September 2026)
- Natural gas: WSMV, Spire has officially taken over for Piedmont as the Nashville area’s natural gas provider (June 2026)
- Gas provider change: Spire, Information for Tennessee Customers (October 2026)
- Renters insurance: Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance, TDCI Shares Tips for Renters of All Ages (August 2026)
- Scams: Federal Trade Commission, Rental Listing Scams (June 2026)
Author: Go Big City Team
Next step: see the full Moving to Nashville guide for rent, costs, transit, weather, jobs and neighborhoods in one place.