landlord trying to evict by certified mail.

[nomadix]

I have a landlord who is trying to evict , without use of the courts, by certified mail. Tenant rents by month. Landlord brought up a new contract and tenant refused to sign so landlord sent certified mail eviction notice. Doesn't the eviction notice have to come through a court and be delivered by a sheriffs deputy ? This is Tennessee state rental law btw.. any help would be appreciated.

oh almost forgot . New contract states that the tenant must stop parking behind the house and must allow the landlord to enter the house to spray for bugs. Tenant said that they would stop parking behind house but they would not allow landlord to spray because of danger to child safety. Tenant asked if landlord would just by bug bombs and let tenant bomb house themselves and landlord said no. 

Landlord also stated that the tenant broke the lease by painting walls in the house. Tenant said that landlord was going to buy material to put on the walls 1 month ago and has not seen the material. Tenant was supposed to put material up. So wouldnt that also mean that the landlord is liable for that aswell?