Use our late rent notice template to send a past-due rent reminder, and learn when you may need to send a pay or quit notice.
In a perfect world, every tenant would pay their rent on time every month. In reality, even the best tenants can get busy or forget what day it is, and this can result in a late rent payment .
One way to help avoid late rent payments is to use a tool like Zillow Rental Manager to collect rent online and set up automatic payments.
But sometimes late rent is unavoidable. If a tenant doesn’t pay on time, you may need to send them a late rent notice .
Download our free landlord notice templates , including a late rent notice, rent increase letter and lease renewal letter.
Note: This guide is for informational purposes only. Zillow, Inc. does not make any guarantees about the sufficiency of the information in or linked to from this guide, or that it’s compliant with current, applicable or local laws. Landlord-tenant laws change rapidly and may be regulated at the federal, state and local levels. This resource is not a substitute for the advice or service of an attorney; you should not rely on this resource for any purpose without consulting with a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.
A late rent notice , or late rent letter , is typically a letter from the landlord to notify the tenant that rent is past due. A late rent notice gives the tenant a chance to remedy the situation and allows the landlord to keep a record of the communication in case the problem persists and further action is needed (like sending a pay or quit notice or seeking an eviction ).
Depending on the terms of the lease and applicable laws, you may be able to charge a late fee. Note that in some cases, the tenant may be withholding rent because the landlord or property manager has failed to fulfill their lease obligations. You may wish to consult a local attorney to decide whether a late rent notice is warranted.
Once you’ve determined that a late rent notice is appropriate, here’s how to give one.
In general, a late rent notice should include:
Having a template on hand can simplify this process . Download our free landlord notice templates, including a late rent notice, rent increase letter and lease renewal letter. If your tenant is violating other terms of the lease agreement, you can send a similar notice to let them know — this is often called a lease violation notice .
Here is an example of a late rent notice template:
When you send a late rent notice will depend on local laws and the terms of the lease, but tenants typically have around five to seven days after the rent due date before they incur a late rent fee. In some locations, late fees are regulated by law and can be either a set fee, like $20, or a percentage of the rent, like 5%. The terms for late rent payments should be defined in the lease agreement and comply with local laws.
If you manage your rental with Zillow Rental Manager , you can create online leases that specify due dates and late fees for rent — and it’s easy to review those terms with your tenant.
Generally, your lease agreement should specify how late rent notices will be sent. Some states don’t recognize email as an acceptable method of delivery, so late rent notices should typically be delivered in person or sent via certified mail. Be sure to consult a local attorney about the landlord-tenant laws for your area before giving your tenant a late rent notice .
If a tenant still doesn’t pay rent after you’ve sent the late rent notice, you may be able to send a pay or quit notice or start an eviction. Your state, city or town may have its own laws and regulations on this topic, so be sure to consult a local attorney before taking action against a tenant.
A notice to pay or quit is a formal letter requesting that the tenant pay their overdue rent or vacate the premises. Depending on your local laws, this can be the first step of an eviction process. However, a notice to pay rent or quit implies that a landlord has the right to force a tenant to vacate, when in most cases the removal of a tenant is often administered by a local court. Since landlord-tenant laws vary by state, city and town, it’s important to speak with a local attorney to determine the best course of action.
It’s generally not a good practice to accept partial rent payments because that could lead to confusion about how much your tenant owes. In some jurisdictions, a landlord’s acceptance of a partial rent payment could waive other rights available under local law.
Tenants may be late on rent for a number of reasons, including circumstances out of their control. As a landlord, here are steps you can take to increase your chances of receiving rent payments on time each month:
For more articles, tips and trends on managing a rental property and being a landlord, visit our Rentals Resource Center .
