14 Day Eviction Notice — Free Notice to Quit Template
A 14 day eviction notice gives a tenant two weeks to pay overdue rent or move out. Fourteen days is the nonpayment period in some states, while others use it for lease violations or not at all. The notice period depends on your state and your lease, and only a court can remove a tenant who doesn't comply.
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Free to preview[Landlord or property manager name]
[Your address and phone for the tenant to reach you]
October 15, 2026
To: [Tenant name(s)]
and all other occupants of
[Rental property address]
Re: Notice to pay rent or quit — [Rental property address]
Dear [Tenant name(s)],
This letter is formal written notice to you as the tenant of the property at [Rental property address]. Type of notice: Notice to pay rent or quit.
The reason for this notice is as follows:
[Reason for this notice]
Within 14 days after this notice is delivered to you, you must [What the tenant must do within that time]. If this notice is delivered to you on October 15, 2026, that period ends on October 29, 2026.
If you do not do so within that time, I intend to file an eviction case with the court to recover possession of the property. You will have the opportunity to respond in court, and you may not be removed from the property unless a court orders it. I will not remove you or your belongings or change the locks without a court order.
If you have questions about this notice, or wish to discuss payment or resolving the issue, please contact me in writing at the address above.
Sincerely,
[Landlord or property manager name]
Date this notice was delivered: ____________________
Method of delivery: ____________________
Delivered by: ____________________
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Confirm the 14 days first
Pick your state on our state pages to see its notice period for unpaid rent and lease violations. If your state requires fourteen days, also check whether that means calendar days, whether the day of delivery counts, and whether mailed notices get extra time. If your lease gives more time than the state minimum, follow the lease.
Two weeks is a reasonable stretch for a tenant to catch up. Use it: a short note offering to talk about a payment arrangement can resolve the issue without court.
Wording that holds up
State the rent owed, the period it covers and the date it was due. Name every adult tenant and give the full address with unit number. Keep the tone neutral and factual, and include the statement that you won't remove the tenant or their belongings without a court order, which this template does for you.
If your state requires specific language, such as information about the tenant's right to respond or about rental assistance, add it before you serve.
After the two weeks
If the tenant pays in full, the notice is resolved. If not, you can file an eviction case. Only a court can remove a tenant, so continue to treat the home as theirs until a judge rules and a court officer acts. Keep a written record of every payment and conversation during this time.
What to do, step by step
Check your state and local rules first
Look up the notice period, required wording and delivery method for your state, county and city. Many places set different periods for unpaid rent, lease violations and ending a tenancy, and some cities add their own just-cause rules.
Fill in the notice
Answer the questions above. Name every adult tenant on the lease, state the facts plainly and enter the exact number of days your rules require.
Serve it the way your state requires
States specify how a notice must be delivered — commonly hand delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, posting and mailing, or certified mail. A notice served the wrong way may have to be redone.
Record how and when you served it
Write down the date, time, method and who delivered it, and keep a copy of the notice. Courts often ask for this proof of service.
Wait out the full notice period
Don't change the locks, remove belongings or shut off utilities. If the tenant fixes the problem, accept it as your rules require; if not, the next step is filing an eviction case in court.
What if the tenant doesn't respond to the notice?
An eviction notice is not an eviction. It is the written warning most states require before you can go to court. If the notice period ends and the tenant hasn't paid, fixed the violation or moved out, the next step is to file an eviction case — often called an unlawful detainer or summary possession case — with your local court.
Until a judge rules in your favor and a court officer such as a sheriff or marshal carries out the order, the tenant has the right to stay. Changing the locks, removing the tenant's belongings, cutting off utilities or otherwise forcing them out is a so-called self-help eviction, which is illegal in nearly every state and can expose you to damages.
Courts look closely at the notice itself. If the period was too short, the wording missed something your state requires or it was delivered the wrong way, the case can be dismissed and you may have to start over. Your local court's self-help center or a landlord association can tell you what your court expects.
Example 14 day eviction notice
A filled-in sample with made-up details, so you can see the finished result.
Greenway Rentals LLC
PO Box 2210, Lakeview, MN 55401 · (555) 201-4478
October 5, 2026
To: Taylor Brooks and Jamie Brooks
and all other occupants of
56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402
Re: Notice to pay rent or quit — 56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402
Dear Taylor Brooks and Jamie Brooks,
This letter is formal written notice to you as the tenant of the property at 56 Willow St, Unit 3, Lakeview, MN 55402. Type of notice: Notice to pay rent or quit.
The reason for this notice is as follows:
Rent of $1,450 for the month of October 2026, due on October 1, 2026, has not been paid. A reminder was sent by email on October 6, 2026.
The total amount of rent now due is $1,450.00.
Within 14 days after this notice is delivered to you, you must pay the full amount of rent owed or move out of the property. If this notice is delivered to you on October 5, 2026, that period ends on October 19, 2026.
If you do not do so within that time, I intend to file an eviction case with the court to recover possession of the property. You will have the opportunity to respond in court, and you may not be removed from the property unless a court orders it. I will not remove you or your belongings or change the locks without a court order.
If you have questions about this notice, or wish to discuss payment or resolving the issue, please contact me in writing at the address above.
Sincerely,
Greenway Rentals LLC
Date this notice was delivered: ____________________
Method of delivery: ____________________
Delivered by: ____________________
Frequently asked questions
Can the tenant pay on day 14?
Usually yes. If the tenant pays the full amount before the notice period ends, most states treat the notice as satisfied. Count the deadline carefully, including any rules about weekends, holidays and mail.
Can I serve a 14 day notice for a lease violation?
If your state uses that period for violations, yes. Switch the notice type to cure or quit, describe the violation and what the tenant must do to fix it, and check your state's rules on our state pages.
What if I served the notice too early?
If rent wasn't yet late under the lease or the state's rules when you served, the notice may be defective. It is usually safer to serve a new, correct notice than to file a case on one that could be dismissed.
How much notice do I have to give a tenant?
It depends on your state, sometimes your city, the type of notice and the lease. Periods for unpaid rent can be as short as a few days or as long as a month, and notices ending a month-to-month tenancy are often 30 days or more. Check your state's landlord-tenant law and any local ordinance before serving.
Is an eviction notice the same as being evicted?
No. A notice only starts the process. If the tenant doesn't comply, the landlord must file a case in court and win a judgment. Only a court order, carried out by a sheriff, marshal or similar officer, can legally remove a tenant from the property.
FairLetter is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Letters are templates you customize and send yourself.