Tenant Not Paying Rent
Your tenant hasn't paid rent and you're losing money every day. You need to know your options.
Send a late rent notice immediately, then follow up with a pay or quit notice if payment isn't received.
Start with the late rent noticeThe order to do this in.
Skipping a step is what gets a case dismissed rather than merely delayed. Work down the list.
Document the late payment
Record the date rent was due, amount owed, and any communication with tenant.
Send a Late Rent Notice
Formally notify tenant of missed payment and any late fees. This starts your paper trail.
Get the template for this stepWait for grace period (if applicable)
Some states require a grace period before charging late fees or taking action.
Send Pay or Quit Notice
If rent remains unpaid, send the required notice (3-day, 5-day, etc. based on your state).
Get the template for this stepFile for eviction if needed
If tenant doesn't pay by the deadline, you can proceed with formal eviction in court.
Three ways landlords lose this.
Self-help eviction
Changing the locks, cutting the utilities or removing belongings is illegal in every state, regardless of how far behind the rent is. It converts your strong case into their damages claim.
Assuming your state works like the last one you read about
Notice periods, deposit caps and required language differ by state and often by city. Verify against the jurisdiction the property sits in.
Waiting too long to get a lawyer
Once the tenant contests, raises habitability, or gets representation, the cost of an attorney is smaller than the cost of the month you are about to lose.
Forms you will need
Keep the paper trail from day one.
Every notice you generate is dated, complete and filed against the tenancy. If this ends up in front of a judge, the record is the case.