Bledsoe County, Tennessee Eviction Risk: Moderate

Bledsoe County sits among the most landlord-favorable jurisdictions in Tennessee eviction laws, earning an eviction risk score of 4/10 (Moderate) and ranking 13th of 95 counties statewide -- meaning 12 counties carry higher risk than Bledsoe. Nestled in the Sequatchie Valley of the Cumberland Plateau, the county has a small rental market: the sole tracked city, Pikeville (4/10), anchors all rental activity and reflects the same low-pressure environment that defines the county as a whole. With scores ranging from 4 to 4 across its cities, Bledsoe shows virtually no intra-county variation -- the risk profile is consistent throughout.

The county's low score reflects a convergence of structural factors that keep eviction pressure light. Average rent runs just $630 per month -- well below Tennessee eviction laws's urban corridors -- and rent burden sits at 27.9%, meaning tenants here spend a manageable share of income on housing compared to high-cost metros. That said, poverty runs deep: 34.8% of the population falls below the federal poverty line, which is more than double the national average. That poverty rate is worth watching -- it signals that while legal eviction costs are low, the underlying tenant population is financially fragile. Any sustained job loss or economic shock could translate quickly into nonpayment filings even in a county that otherwise registers as low-risk. The 48.8% renter share is also notable for a rural Appalachian county, indicating a rental market larger than the population figure alone might suggest.

On the legal side, Bledsoe County falls outside the coverage zone of the Tennessee eviction laws Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act (URLTA, T.C.A. § 66-28) because its population is under 75,000. That means Tennessee eviction laws's URLTA-specific notice rules -- including the 7-day pay-or-quit standard under TCA § 66-28-505 -- do not apply here. Instead, landlords must rely on TCA Title 29 Chapter 18, which requires a 30-day notice before filing. That longer notice period adds time to the front end of the process but is offset by the county's uncontested case timeline of 21 to 45 days once in court. Court filing fees range from $200 to $300, sheriff lockout fees from $40 to $150, and attorney fees typically run $500 to $2,500 for a straightforward case. For a contested matter, landlords should budget 45 to 120 days from filing to resolution. Tennessee eviction laws preempts any local rent control ordinance statewide, so no municipality within Bledsoe can impose a rent cap -- and no just-cause eviction requirement exists at either the state or local level.

Bledsoe County's Moderate risk designation reflects a rural rental market with modest rents, streamlined court timelines, and no local tenant-protection overlays. The 30-day notice requirement under TCA Title 29 Chapter 18 adds a step not found in URLTA counties, but once past that stage the process moves at a pace consistent with the state average for smaller jurisdictions.