5 Day Eviction Notice — Free Pay or Quit Template
A 5 day eviction notice is most commonly a notice to pay rent or quit: the tenant has five days to pay what is owed or move out. Five days is the required period in some states, but others use a shorter or much longer one, and your lease may give more time. The notice period depends on your state and your lease, and only a court can remove a tenant.
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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 5 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 20, 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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Before you write five days
Look up your state's period for unpaid rent on our state pages and compare it with your lease. If the lease gives a grace period or a longer notice period, follow the lease. Some states also require that rent be a certain number of days late before you can serve any notice at all, so serving on the second of the month may be too early.
Check how days are counted. Whether weekends and holidays count, and whether mailing adds time, changes the real deadline.
What to include
Name every adult on the lease, give the full property address including unit number, and state the exact rent owed for each unpaid period. Say how and where the tenant can pay, such as the address for checks or an online portal, and make sure that option is actually available during the notice period, including evenings and weekends if your state requires it.
Leave out late fees unless you have confirmed your state allows them in this notice. Many do not, and adding them can make the notice invalid.
Next steps if the rent isn't paid
If the full rent arrives within the period, accept it and update your records. If it doesn't, you may file an eviction case with the court. The tenant has the right to respond, and only a court order carried out by a court officer can remove them. Keep your proof of service, your ledger and copies of all messages ready for the court.
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 5 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. The lease grace period ended on October 5, 2026.
The total amount of rent now due is $1,450.00.
Within 5 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 10, 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
When can I serve a 5 day notice?
Once rent is overdue under the lease and any grace period has passed, in most places. Some states set their own waiting period before a notice can be served. Check your state's rules on our state pages and the payment terms in your lease.
Can I refuse payment on day four?
In most states, if the tenant offers the full amount demanded within the notice period, you must accept it and the notice is satisfied. Refusing a timely full payment can undermine any eviction case you file later.
Is a 5 day notice the same as an eviction?
No. It is the warning most states require before a case can be filed. Only a court can order a tenant to leave, and only a court officer can carry out that order.
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.