7 Day Eviction Notice — Free Notice to Cure or Quit Template
A 7 day eviction notice gives a tenant one week to fix a problem or move out. Depending on the state, seven days may be the period for unpaid rent, for certain lease violations, or not used at all. The notice period depends on your state and your lease, so check before you serve, and remember that 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 cure lease violation 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 cure lease violation or quit.
The reason for this notice is as follows:
[Reason for this notice]
Within 7 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 22, 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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Choose the right type of notice
Seven days shows up in different places depending on the state. In some it is the period for unpaid rent, in others for lease violations, and some use different numbers entirely. Use the notice type that matches your situation, then pick your state on our state pages to see the period it requires. If your lease promises more time, give the longer period.
For a lease violation, the tenant usually must be given a real chance to fix the problem. Describe what fixing it looks like so there is no doubt.
Be specific about the violation
Quote or cite the lease section, say when the problem started or was observed, and describe the evidence, such as photos, written complaints or an inspection note. Vague notices like general complaints about behavior are easy for a tenant to challenge and hard for a court to enforce.
Make the required action concrete. Remove the unauthorized occupant, stop parking on the lawn, or repair the damaged screen door are all clear. Improve your behavior is not.
When the week is up
If the tenant fixes the problem in time, note it in writing and move on. If not, you can file an eviction case with your local court. Only a court can order a tenant out, and only a court officer can carry out that order, so avoid any self-help steps like changing locks while the case is pending.
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 7 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 cure lease violation 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 cure lease violation or quit.
The reason for this notice is as follows:
A dog has been kept in the unit since at least September 20, 2026, in violation of section 12 of the lease, which prohibits pets without written permission.
Within 7 days after this notice is delivered to you, you must remove the dog from the property permanently or move out of the property. If this notice is delivered to you on October 5, 2026, that period ends on October 12, 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 I use a 7 day notice for unpaid rent?
Possibly, if seven days is what your state requires for nonpayment. Many states use a different period. Check your state's rules on our state pages, choose the pay or quit option, and enter only the rent that is actually owed.
What if the tenant fixes the problem and then repeats it?
Some states allow a shorter notice, or a notice without a chance to cure, for a repeated violation within a set time. The rules are specific, so check your state's law before using a no-cure notice for a repeat issue.
Do I have to give the notice in person?
Each state sets acceptable delivery methods, often personal delivery, leaving it with an adult at the home, posting and mailing, or certified mail. Use a method your state allows and record the details of how and when it was delivered.
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.