Free Late Rent Notice Template

Outline your Pay or Quit document with our free printable Late Rent Notice template. Get back any unpaid rent from a tenant using our easy-to-use legal products and information.

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What Is a Late Notice for Rent

A Late Rent Notice or a Notice for Late Rent payment is a formal way of informing a tenant they have missed a payment. 

A Late Rent Notice may also be given for several missed payments.

It serves as a warning to your tenant. It does not automatically begin eviction proceedings or serve as an Eviction Notice

A Notice of Late Rent lets your tenant know that their nonpayment is now a problem and action must be taken, or the situation may get worse. 

After you deliver a Late Rent Notice, the past due rent should be paid back immediately. Depending on the state your property is located, you may even be able to charge your tenant a late fee for the unpaid rent.

Why Send a Late Rent Notice to a Tenant

Even though It is not as formal as an Eviction Notice, it isextremely helpful inrecovering any unpaid fees. 

A Late Rent Notice does not necessarily mean you are planning to evict your tenant. It acts as a great way to bring attention to any unpaid rent

In general, you can expect your tenant to immediately pay you what he or she owes.

However, some tenants do not comply, and you need to take further action. Sending a Late Rent Notice is also useful if this occurs. 

The Notice can also be usefulif you need to begin eviction proceedings in the future. 

It provides proof to a court that you advised the tenant of late rent. This can considerably  help you win a case. 

It also ensures that you can begin the legal processto get rid of any squatters on your property.

When to Send a Late Rent Notice

There are different moments, a Late Rent Notice can be used effectively to get any past due rent in your hands.

When is the right moment to use a Late Rent Notice? 

  • 5 to 7 days after the due date

  • If you are considering an eviction

  • When your tenant does not attempt to pay the rent

If your tenant does not have any intention of paying unpaid rent, then you need to take action. 

LawDistrict provides a Late Rent Notice PDF template. Download the document and get back your unpaid rent quickly.

Days to Pay Rent or Quit by State

If your tenant does not comply with your notification, you have the right to begin eviction proceedings. 

States have theirown rules regarding the amount of notice you must give a tenant.

If they do not pay the past due rent in that period, you can evict them from the property.

You can review the rules of your state in the table below. 

State Days to Pay or Quit Laws
Alabama 7 days § 35-9A-421(b)
Alaska 8 days AS 34.03.220 (b)
Arizona 5 days A.R.S. § 33-1368(a)(2)
Arkansas 3 days § 18-60-304(3)
California 3 days CCP § 1161(2), CCP §1161(3)
Colorado 10 days § 13-40-104(d)
Connecticut 3 days § 47a-23(a)
Delaware 5 days Title 25 § 5502
Florida 3 days § 83.56(3), § 83.56(1)
Georgia 7 days (after receiving a Dispossessory procedure summons) § 44-7-50
Hawaii 15 days § 521-68
Idaho 3 days § 6-303(2)
Illinois 5 days 735 ILCS 5/9-209, 735 ILCS 5/9-210
Indiana 10 days IC 32-31-1-6
Iowa 3 days § 562A.27
Kansas 10 days § 58-2507
Kentucky 7 days § 383.660(2)
Louisiana 5 days CCP 4701
Maine 7 days § 6002(1)(c)
Maryland 10 days § 8-401
Massachusetts 14 days Chapter 140, Section 32J(1)
Michigan 7 days § 554.134(2), § 600.5714 & § 554.134(4)
Minnesota 14 days § 504B.291
Mississippi 3 days § 89-7-27
Missouri none § 535-010
Montana 3 days § 70-24-422(2)
Nebraska 7 days § 76-1431(2)
Nevada 7 days NRS 40.2512
New Hampshire 7 days § 540:2 II(a) and § 540:3 I
New Jersey Not necessary or 30 days if the landlord has accepted late rent previously § 2A:18-61.2(b)
New Mexico 3 days § 47-8-33(d)
New York 14 days § 711(2), § 753(4)
North Carolina 10 days § 42-3, § 42-26
North Dakota 3 days § 47-32-01.4
Ohio 3 days § 1923.02 & § 1923.04, § 1923.04
Oklahoma 5 days Title 41 § 131
Oregon 3 or 6 days § 90.394(2)
Pennsylvania 10 days § 250.501(b)
Rhode Island 5 days § 34-18-35
South Carolina 5 days § 27-40-710(b)
South Dakota 3 days § 21-16-1(4)
Tennessee 14 days § 66-28-505(a)(2) & § 66-7-109
Texas 3 days § 24.005
Utah 3 days § 78B-6-802(1)(c)
Vermont 14 days § 4467(a)
Virginia 14 days § 55.1-1245(f)
Washington 14 days § 59.12.030(3)
West Virginia 5 days § 55.1-1415, § 55.1-1245
Wisconsin 14 days § 704.17(2)(a) & 704.17(2)(b)
Wyoming 3 days § 1-21-1002 & 1-21-1003

How to Serve a Late Rent Notice

The details regarding how to deliver a Late Rent Notice should be in the lease agreement. 

You can deliver your Pay or Quit Notice in several ways. 

These methods include:

  • Delivering the document in person

  • Send the Notice via an overnight postal service

  • Send with certified or registered mail

Review your agreement and your state laws to figure out the best way to send the Notice to your tenant. 

What to Include in a Late Rent Notice

If you feel it is time to make a Late Rent Notice, you have to know exactly what to include

If you forget to put in essential terms or details, your tenant can make a legal argument that leads to even more unpaid rent. 

Here is what you should put in your document:

  • The exact address of the property that is being rented

  • The full names of the tenants that appear on the contract

  • The date the Notice is being served

  • The amount due

  • Any late fees if you can penalize your tenant for unpaid rent 

  • The methods of payment

  • The consequences of not paying

  • Your signature 

Make your document with our Notice of Late Payment template. Use it to avoid any mistakes that can lead to further unpaid rent. 

How to Write a Late Rent Notice

To write your legal document, it is essential to outline it correctly

Follow these step-by-step instructions below to write a proper Notice. 

  1. Write the full name and address of the tenant or tenants. The address should be the address of the property.

  2. Fill in the date that you deliver the notice 

  3. Give the details of the month(s) that rent wasn’t paid and how much the tenant owes you 

  4. Specify the choice of time and date when the tenant will pay the unpaid rent

  5. List the payment methods the tenant can provide you with the past due rent. 

  6. Include your name and address and then sign the document 

To make the writing process much easier, you can use ourLate Rent Notice template,where you will find a clear and concisely written outline. 

All you need to do is fill in the spaces. 

Late Rent Notice Sample

Before writing any legal document, it is sensible to review an example. 

This gives you a clear idea of how a Late Rent Notice should look before delivering it to your tenant, ‘thus avoiding fatal mistakes.

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Late Notice for Rent Template

FAQs About Late Rent Notices

To further understand how a Late Rent Notice works from theperspective of both the landlord and tenant, we have included a FAQ section below. 

See the responses to clarify any doubts you may have about unpaid rent and Pay or Quit Notices.

What Happens When You’re Late on Rent?

If you are a tenant and have not paid your rent, then you could face legal problems. 

What are the consequences of not paying rent?

Once your landlord serves you a Pay or Quit Notice,you will have to pay or be subject to eviction from the property.

How to Prevent Late Payments?

As a landlord, there are a few ways you can stop your tenant from paying you late. It is important not to bend the rules for a tenant, as it can lead to further unpaid rent. 

Here are a few specific things you can do: 

  • Only accept payments in full

  • Be strict with the due date 

  • Include a late fee in the contract

  • Set reminders of the payment date

What is Evidence of Past Due Rent?

The purpose of this Notice is to collect any past due rent. It can also be key evidence if you need to evict your tenant.  

Sometimes this Notice doesn’t work with certain tenants. In the end, if you must evict, you canuse it as evidence in court.

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Late Notice for Rent Template

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Preview of your Late Rent Notice

_________
_________

_________
_________
_________
Dear tenant(s):

This letter is a formal notice requesting you to make immediate payment of the rent due for the property located at _________ under the terms of the rental agreement stipulated for these premises.
From _________ onwards, your _________ payment is _________ day(s) past due. Your rent was due on _________. Other than that, you owe late charges as provided by the lease.
Below is a breakdown of the total amount owed:

Overdue rent $_________

Total $_________
You should be aware of this serious situation. Legal action may be taken to execute your lease obligations if payment is not received before _________.
Sincerely,

_____________________________
_________
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