No landlord wants to deal with a resident who is not paying their rent. Thankfully, if your tenant’s rent is just a few days overdue and it’s the first offense, you can usually resolve it with a written reminder. But if a few days turns to 30, 60 or even 90 days of overdue rent, then it’s time to take more serious and binding action.

Tip: You can now collect rent online with Zillow Rental Manager.

If the rent is very overdue, the next step is to send the delinquent tenant a pay or quit notice. This notice is sent after an overdue rent notice but before eviction proceedings as a way for your tenant to make good on their rent or else vacate the property.

You must deliver a pay or quit notice in writing. In it, include how much rent they owe and the number of days they have to pay in full. Check your local or state laws for the amount of time to give them to make the payment (it could be anywhere between 3 and 14 days). Always work with an experienced landlord-tenant attorney in your area.

A pay or quit notice template simplifies a sometimes difficult task and ensures you deliver consistent notices every time you have a tenant who is falling behind.

Download our free template to get started.

You can send a printed notice in the mail or simply fill it out on your computer and email it to your renter.

Note: This template is provided for informational purposes only. Zillow Group, Inc. does not make any guarantees as to the sufficiency of the information contained in this template or its compliance with current, applicable laws. This resource is not a substitute for the advice or services of an attorney; you should not rely on this resource for any purpose without consultation with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.