Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
Create a free notice to pay rent or quit. A Notice to Pay Rent or Quit is the first step a landlord takes when a tenant has not paid rent. It demands that the tenant pay the full amount owed within the state's required number of days or move out, before the landlord can file for eviction. Select your state below for the correct notice period.
Tenant Name(s)
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⚠ Alabama requires a 7-day notice for a notice to pay rent or quit; the count runs from the date of SERVICE, and some states exclude weekends/holidays — verify before relying on a date. 7 BUSINESS days, not calendar days. Under Ala. Code 35-9A-421(b), if rent is unpaid when due, the landlord may deliver written notice specifying the rent (and any late fees) owed and stating the rental agreement terminates on a date not less than 7 business days after the tenant receives the notice. If the tenant pays/remedies in full within those 7 business days, the tenancy continues. If a single set of facts triggers both 421(a) and 421(b), the 421(b) nonpayment 7-business-day notice governs. There is no separate statutory grace period; the due date is set by the lease.
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit (Alabama)
NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT
Date of Notice: ________________
From (Landlord/Agent): [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME], [LANDLORD ADDRESS]
To: [TENANT NAME(S)], Tenant(s) in possession of: [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that rent is now due and unpaid in the amount of $________. This amount is for unpaid RENT only and excludes late fees, utilities, and other charges unless your state and lease allow them.
You are required to PAY the full amount of rent due within 7 days after this notice is served on you, OR to vacate and surrender possession of the property. Payment must be made to [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] at [LANDLORD ADDRESS], by cash, check, or money order. If you mail payment, it must be RECEIVED by the deadline.
If you do not comply with this notice within the time stated, the landlord may begin legal proceedings to recover possession of the property under Ala. Code 35-9A-421 (noncompliance with rental agreement; failure to pay rent) and 35-9A-441 (periodic tenancy; holdover remedies), Alabama Uniform Residential Landlord and Tenant Act, Title 35, Chapter 9A.
Only a court can order you to move out. The landlord may NOT lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities; doing so is illegal.
This notice is given without waiving, and the landlord expressly reserves, all other rights and remedies, including the right to recover unpaid rent and damages.
How this notice may be served: The Act requires written notice 'delivered' to the tenant, and the 421 notice periods run from the tenant's RECEIPT ('after receipt of the notice'). Note that the general notice-receipt rules in Ala. Code 35-9A-144 expressly DO NOT apply to a notice to terminate a tenancy or evict a tenant (35-9A-144(e)). Service of the eviction (unlawful detainer) action and related termination notices is governed by the eviction-action statute (35-9A-461) and the Alabama Rules of Civil Procedure / unlawful detainer service rules, which contemplate personal service or, where the tenant cannot be found, posting a copy on the premises door plus first-class mail by the sheriff/process server (service by posting complete as of the date of mailing). Best practice is personal delivery plus first-class mail and documenting the receipt date. (The spec's prior citation to 35-9A-161 was incorrect; 35-9A-161 covers terms and conditions of the rental agreement, not service.)
_______________________________________
[LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] — Landlord / Authorized Agent
[LANDLORD ADDRESS]
Date: ________________
PROOF OF SERVICE
I served this notice on the tenant(s) on ____________ (date).
Method of service (use a method permitted in your state — see the service note above):
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________ Date: ____________
Signature of person serving the notice
Email yourself a copy (PDF)
Self-help template, not legal advice. Notice periods, wording, and service rules vary by state and city. You cannot remove a tenant yourself — serve a proper notice and, if needed, file in court.
When to Use a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit
A Notice to Pay Rent or Quit is the first step a landlord takes when a tenant has not paid rent. It demands that the tenant pay the full amount owed within the state's required number of days or move out, before the landlord can file for eviction.
Because this notice gives the tenant a chance to fix the problem, it must clearly state what is owed or what must be corrected, and the exact deadline. If the tenant complies in time, the tenancy continues.
Notice to Pay Rent or Quit by State
The required notice period for a notice to pay rent or quit varies by state. Choose your state:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a notice to pay rent or quit?
A Notice to Pay Rent or Quit is the first step a landlord takes when a tenant has not paid rent. It demands that the tenant pay the full amount owed within the state's required number of days or move out, before the landlord can file for eviction.
How many days notice does a notice to pay rent or quit require?
It depends on the state — choose your state above and the generator fills in the required number of days automatically.
Disclaimer
This generator provides a self-help document for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Eviction law is strict and local — confirm your state and city requirements, and consult a landlord-tenant attorney for contested cases.