When do you need to send a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit?

A landlord/owner has to send a ‘Notice to Pay Rent or Quit’ when the tenant defaults on paying the agreed upon monthly rent. Through this notice, the landlord can demand the rent payment, which is due and payable.

Required information for the notice

The landlord needs to fill out a ‘Notice to Pay Rent or Quit’ with the following information before sending it to the tenant.

• Name of the tenant
• Total amount due
• Period for which the rent is owed
• Time period within which the tenant has to vacate the property if he/she doesn’t make the required payments
• A time period, after completion of which, the landlord can terminate the lease if the outstanding rent is not paid in full
• Description of the property – It includes the address along with the name of the city, state and the zip code
• Legal description of the property

After filling out the above information, the owner needs to sign the notice and mention the date.

Purpose served by the notice

A landlord uses a ‘Notice to Pay Rent or Quit’ to inform the tenant that he/she is behind on payments and he/she will have to face the consequences if the dues are not cleared within the time period as specified in the notice. In most states, it is mandatory for a lender to send such a notice before taking legal help. This notice is sent to legally inform the tenant that the landlord can start eviction proceedings against the tenant if he/she doesn’t cure the default or vacate the property within the set amount of days. The time period (as specified in the notice) starts from the day the tenant receives the notice.

It is advisable that you get the notice reviewed and approved by an attorney or an industry expert before sending it to the tenant.