Landlords often need to send formal notices to tenants for various legal and operational reasons, from unpaid rent to upcoming repairs. Here are 10 of the most common tenant notices, including what each one means, when to send it, and how to structure it for compliance and clarity.
These notice types are for reference only. It’s a good idea to check with a real estate attorney in your state to make sure any notice you send is compliant with the laws in your area.
Quick Reference Table
|
Notice Type |
Reason to Send |
Advance Notice (Typical) |
Legal Requirement |
|
Pay or Quit |
Late rent |
3–10 days |
Yes |
|
Cure or Quit |
Lease violation |
~30 days |
Yes |
|
Unconditional Quit |
Extreme violation |
Varies by state |
Yes (if allowed) |
|
Offer of Renewal |
Lease nearing end |
60 days |
No |
|
Non-Renewal |
Ending tenancy |
30–60 days |
Yes |
|
Rent Increase |
Raising rent |
30–60 days |
Yes |
|
Entry/Inspection |
Property access |
24 hours |
Yes (in most states) |
|
Abandoned Property |
Items left behind |
Varies |
Yes |
|
Repairs/Outages |
Scheduled maintenance |
24–48 hours |
Yes (if entry needed) |
|
Transfer of Ownership |
Property sold |
ASAP |
Yes |
1. What Is a Notice to Pay or Quit?
Quick Summary
- Purpose: Notify tenant of overdue rent.
- When to Send: Immediately after grace period ends.
- Legal Backing: Typically 3–10 days to comply.
This notice is sent when a tenant is late with the rent (including any grace period). This is the first step in the eviction process. Be sure to check your state laws in this instance to know how much time the renter has to pay the rent. While it is commonly between three and 10 days, it varies by state, so check your local jurisdiction.
What to include:
- Date
- Tenant's name
- Property address
- Reference to the lease agreement and the date it was signed
- A “pay by” date in accordance with state law
- Date range the requested payment will cover
- Option to move out (“quit and deliver up the possession of the premises.”)
- Your name and signature
2. What Is a Notice to Cure or Quit?
Quick Summary
- Purpose: Address lease violations (e.g., unauthorized pets or roommates).
- When to Send: Upon discovering a violation.
- Compliance Time: Usually ~30 days.
The Cure or Quit notice is sent when your tenant violates the lease agreement. For example, moving in a roommate you didn’t know about or approve, or getting a pet when the lease specifies no pets are allowed. Typically, you’ll give them a time frame (i.e., 30 days) to “cure” the problem, and after that time frame, you can begin eviction proceedings.
What to include:
- Date
- Tenant's name
- Property address
- Specific violation
- Lease clause being violated (i.e., page 2, paragraph 5)
- How the tenant can correct the violation
- Deadline to cure (i.e., 30 days)
- Your name and signature
3. What Is an Unconditional Quit Notice?
Quick Summary
- Purpose: Immediate eviction with no option to cure.
- When to Send: Severe violations (e.g., illegal activity).
- Legal Tip: Not allowed in all states.
Unlike the two notices above, this notice doesn’t provide a time frame in which to fix the problem, and tenants are not given an option to stay. Because of the harsh nature of this notice, it isn’t allowed in every state, so be sure to check your state laws before sending one of these to your tenant. Even states that do allow this type of notice have very strict guidelines around their usage, so be sure to contact a lawyer before sending out an unconditional quit notice.
An unconditional quit notice is usually saved for extreme violations, such as illegal activity on the property or such extreme damage caused by the tenant that it cannot be remedied. This letter will inform the tenant of a move-out date, i.e., “vacate the premises by [date].”
What to Include:
- Date
- Tenant’s name
- Property address
- Reason for notice
- Deadline to vacate
- Your name and signature
4. What Is an Offer of Renewal Notice?
Quick Summary
- Purpose: Offer tenant the option to extend the lease.
- When to Send: Usually 60 days before lease ends.
- Optional: Not legally required.
Most fixed-term leases don’t auto-renew, so you and your tenant will have to sign a renewal agreement if they intend to stay. Send the offer of renewal letter at least 60 days before the current lease ends, especially if you require them to give you 60 days’ notice if they intend to move out.
What to include:
- Date
- Tenant’s name
- Property address
- Thank-you message
- Current lease expiration date
- Offer to renew (As you know, your lease will expire on ___, and I’d like to provide you a chance to renew)
- Deadline to respond
- Your name and signature
5. What Is a Notice of Non-Renewal?
Quick Summary
- Purpose: Inform tenant the lease will not be renewed.
- When to Send: 30–60 days before lease ends.
- Legal Requirement: Yes, varies by state.
If you are not planning on offering a renewal, notify your tenants that the lease will not be renewed and provide them with a move-out date. The amount of time required for this notice varies from state to state, so be sure to review your state laws to make sure you are providing your residents with ample time to move out.
What to include:
- Date
- Tenant’s name
- Property address
- Lease expiration date
- Statement of non-renewal
- Move-out instructions
- Your name and signature
6. What Is a Rent Increase Notice?
Quick Summary
- Purpose: Notify tenant of upcoming rent increase.
- When to Send: 30–60 days in advance (check local law).
- Tip: Weigh pros/cons with good tenants before raising rent.
Typically, you can’t raise the rent mid-lease, so this notice is sent with an offer of renewal, roughly 30-60 days in advance depending on state law. This notice provides the percentage of the increase, the new rent amount, and the start date.
Be sure to consider the ramifications if you choose to raise the rent on a great tenant. If the tenant is upset by the increase and moves out, you’ll have to clean, do any updates/repairs, re-list the property, host viewings, and go through the screening process all over again. As you do this, your rental is sitting unoccupied.
If you decide to raise the rent and you list on Apartments.com, you will have access to free rent comparison reports. This valuable information gives you a clear understanding of the market so you can price your rental right, compare your property’s value to other similar properties, and review market conditions like the average days on the market and the average rent rates. In addition to this valuable information, your rental home will appear on all 12 of our network sites to help you reach potential renters where they’re searching. By listing on Apartments.com, you can reach millions of renters and fill your vacancy fast.
What to Include:
- Date
- Tenant’s name
- Property address
- Old and new rent amounts
- Effective date of increase
- Your name and signature
7. What Is a Notice of Entry or Intent to Enter?
Quick Summary
- Purpose: Let tenant know you or contractors will be entering the property.
- When to Send: 24 hours before entry (industry standard).
- Legal Requirement: Yes, in most states.
Most states require a landlord to give proper notice before setting foot on the premises of an occupied rental. So even if you just want to check something in the back yard, you still have to give notice. Industry best practice is to give 24 hours’ notice, even if notice isn’t required in your state, but that timeframe varies, so be sure to check how much notice is required by your state.
No matter how you send the notice, make sure you get a confirmation. Some states may have requirements around the delivery method, so be sure to check.
What to Include:
- Date
- Reason for entry
- Entry time and date
- Request for confirmation (if needed)
8. What Is a Notice of Intent to Dispose of Abandoned Property?
Quick Summary:
- Purpose: Inform tenant you intend to dispose of left-behind belongings.
- When to Send: After verifying abandonment.
- Legal Tip: Some states require newspaper notice or written notice to last known address.
First, make sure the property was indeed abandoned (if it is the weekend after they moved out, for example, and there are some boxes in the garage, they may be coming back for them or they may have simply forgotten them). Once you’ve determined that the items were indeed abandoned, you’ll want to send a notice of your intent to dispose of said property.
The state laws vary wildly here. For example, in Kansas, landlords must publish the notice in the local newspaper. Other states require a letter be sent to the last known address. In some states, you must describe the property in sufficient detail for the tenant to identify it. Most states require you to store the items for a set period of time before you can sell them. Be sure to research your state laws before disposing of any items left behind by your tenant.
What to Include:
- Date
- Description of property left behind
- Estimated value of the abandoned property
- Where and how a tenant can reclaim the property
- Deadline to reclaim the property (i.e., 7 to 10 days)
9. What Is a Notice of Repairs, Renovations, or Outages?
Quick Summary
- Purpose: Notify tenant about scheduled maintenance or temporary outages.
- When to Send: 24–48 hours in advance.
- Legal Tip: Provide relocation if outages make unit uninhabitable.
This notice often accompanies the Notice of Entry if someone has to enter the property to make repairs. For example, an electrician will be coming to the home to replace the electrical panel. This notice should include the date the work will take place, the work that will be done, and how long any outages are expected.
If your tenant will be without essential services like electricity, water, or heat for more than a day, consider relocating your tenant to a hotel (at your expense) until the repair is complete. Without access to essential services, a dwelling is considered uninhabitable.
What to Include:
- Date
- Property address
- Reason for repairs
- Timeframe
- Who will be entering the property (i.e., contractors)
- Tenant instructions
- Your name and signature
10. What Is a Notice of Transfer of Ownership or Management?
Quick Summary
- Purpose: Inform tenant of property sale or management change.
- When to Send: As soon as sale is final.
- Legal Tip: Tenants may have right of first refusal in some states.
You’ll send this letter to your tenant if you sell the rental. A lease doesn’t automatically terminate upon the sale of the property unless specifically stated in the lease. If this isn’t in the lease agreement, then the new owner becomes the landlord for the duration of the lease. This letter will state that you have transferred ownership of the property. Give the new owner’s name and state that the new owner will contact them shortly with instructions on where to send the rent payments moving forward. This notice is also used if you switch property management companies.
Again, be sure to review your state laws about the legal requirements when selling a rented property.
What to Include:
- Date
- New owner/management contact info
- Instructions for rent payments
- Signature
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Frequently Asked Questions About Tenant Notices
1. What notices are required before eviction?
Most evictions require a Notice to Pay or Quit or Cure or Quit depending on the issue. Laws vary by state.
2. Can I send tenant notices by email?
Some states allow email notices if agreed to in the lease. Otherwise, use certified mail for verifiable proof.
3. How much notice must a landlord give before entering a rental unit?
Most states require 24 hours’ notice. Always check your local law.
4. What if a tenant leaves belongings after moving out?
You may need to send a Notice of Intent to Dispose of Abandoned Property, store items for a set time, and follow state rules.
5. Can a landlord raise rent anytime?
Not during a fixed lease. Use a Notice of Rent Increase before lease renewal—typically 30–60 days in advance.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For guidance specific to your situation, you should consult a qualified attorney or other relevant professional.
This article was originally published on March 5, 2020.
