An eviction notice, also known as an eviction letter, is a document sent by a landlord to inform the tenant that they need to fix a problem or vacate the property within a set period of time.
Eviction notices are typically sent if the tenant fails to pay rent or violates the terms of the lease or rental agreement. In some cases, the landlord may believe the problem is not fixable (or curable) and send what’s known as an incurable eviction notice. In this case, the tenant has no choice but to vacate the property within a certain number of days.
It’s also important to note that each state has its own laws and requirements for eviction notices, so you will want a notice specific to your state, which you can find below.
Free Eviction Notice Template Forms by State
How to Write an Eviction Notice and What to Include
To write an effective eviction notice, you need to answer the following questions:
1. Who does the eviction notice apply to?
First, name the parties involved in this document by including the following:
- The tenant’s name and address
- The landlord’s name and address
2. What’s the reason for eviction?
Outline the reason(s) you are evicting the tenant, such as:
- Failure to Pay Rent
- Lease Violation
- Illegal Activity on the Premises
- Month to Month Tenancy Ended
- Here, the tenant is receiving an eviction notice for failing to pay rent.
3. Where is the eviction happening?
Include the physical street address for where the eviction will take place.
- Fill in the full address of the rental property or “premises”.
4. What should be done to fix the problem?
If the reason for eviction is curable (with a cure or quit notice), the eviction letter should clearly state what the tenant needs to do to fix the violation and avoid the eviction.
- Here, the notice states that the tenant must pay rent by a certain date or face eviction.
5. When does the notice go into effect? How long does the tenant have to respond?
Finally, you need to indicate when the notice goes into effect (the “notice date”) which is typically the date of the eviction letter. You should also mention the date by which the tenant must fix the lease violation (e.g. pay rent) or leave the premises (the “deadline”).
Make sure your notice includes all the important elements is by using our free eviction letter template.
You can also use our eviction notice form builder, which helps you create a document customized to your situation and the laws that govern evictions where you live.
Sample Eviction Notice Form
Here’s a sample eviction notice for non-payment of rent:
Date: _______________ To: ________________________________________ Rental Address: ___________________________________________ YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT, under the terms of the lease agreement dated _______________, (the “Lease”) for the rent and use of the premises listed above now occupied by you: Your rent for the period from _______________, 20_____ to _______________, 20_____ is PAST DUE. Accordingly, you owe the following amounts: Late fee: $__________ Total Amount Past Due $__________ I demand payment in full of the total amount past due within __________ days from the date of delivery of this notice. UNLESS PAYMENT IS MADE BY SUCH DATE, THE LEASE WILL BE TERMINATED AND YOU MUST VACATE THE PREMISES. You are further notified that unless you pay the total amount past due or vacate the premises by such date, legal action may be initiated against you. Payment must be made: (Check one) ☐ In personal at the landlord’s address. Payment must be made in person at the address below between the hours of ___:______ AM/PM to ___:______ AM/PM, on: (Check all that apply) ☐ Monday ☐ Tuesday ☐ Wednesday ☐ Thursday ☐ Friday ☐ Saturday ☐ Sunday ☐ By mail to the landlord’s address. Payment must be made by mail to the address stated below. ☐ Directly to the landlord’s financial institution. Payment must be made to__________________ [Financial institution name] located at ________________________________________ to account number __________________. ☐ By electronic funds transfer. Payment must be made by the electronic fund transfer procedure previously established for paying rent. YOU ARE BEING ASKED TO PAY RENT OR LEAVE THE PREMISES. IF YOU DO NOT PAY RENT OR LEAVE, AN EVICTION ACTION MAY BE INITIATED AGAINST YOU. IF YOU ARE IN DOUBT REGARDING YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS AS A TENANT, IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT YOU SEEK LEGAL ASSISTANCE. IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A LEGAL REASON FOR NOT PAYING THIS RENT, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO PRESENT THAT DEFENSE AT THE EVICTION HEARING. (Check the following statement if rental property is in the State of California. Strike out if not.) ☐ State law permits former tenants to reclaim abandoned personal property left at the former address of the tenant, subject to certain conditions. You may or may not be able to reclaim property without incurring additional costs, depending on the cost of storing the property and the length of time before it is reclaimed. In general, these costs will be lower the sooner you contact your former landlord after being notified that property belonging to you was left behind after you moved out. (Check the following statement if rental property is in the State of Maine. Strike out if not.) ☐ If you pay the amount of rent due as of the date of this notice before this notice expires, then this notice as it applies to rent arrearage is void. After this notice expires, if you pay all rental arrears, all rent due as of the date of payment and any filing fees and service of process fees actually paid by the landlord before the writ of possession issues at the completion of the eviction process, then your tenancy will be reinstated. THIS NOTICE IS PROVIDED TO YOU IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LEASE AND _________________________________________________ [STATE STATUTE NAME AND SECTION]. NOTHING IN THIS NOTICE IS INTENDED OR SHALL BE CONSTRUED AS A WAIVER BY THE LANDLORD OF ANY RIGHTS OR REMEDIES THE LANDLORD MAY HAVE UNDER THE LEASE OR UNDER STATE OR FEDERAL LAW. Landlord’s Contact Information: Name: ________________________ Address: ________________________________________ Phone Number: ________________________ PROOF OF SERVICE I, the undersigned, being at least 18 years of age, declare under penalty of perjury under the laws of the State of _________________, that on _______________, 20_____, I served a true copy of the attached Notice of Termination in the following method: ☐ Personal delivery to ______________________ at the following address: _____________________________________________________________________________. ☐ Substituted delivery left with/at ____________________ at the following address: _____________________________________________________________________________. ☐ Posted delivery at the following address: ___________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________. ☐ Registered mail, return receipt requested to ____________________ at the following address: _____________________________________________________________________________. ☐ Certified mail, return receipt requested to ____________________ at the following address: _____________________________________________________________________________. Signed by: _________________________________ Print Name: _________________________________ Date: ______________________Notice of Termination: Pay Rent or Quit
State of _________________
NOTICE OF TERMINATION
Rent past due:
$__________
Signature
Date
Tips for Writing an Eviction Notice
To write an effective eviction notice, check your state’s laws since each state has its own requirements for eviction notices. For example, each state requires different notice periods.
You should also be clear about whether your eviction notice is curable so your tenant knows whether they have an opportunity to fix the problem or if their only option is to move out.
See our comprehensive guide on eviction notices for more information.