Evicting a tenant can be complicated. In addition to being protected by New York State rent laws, the courts have sole jurisdiction in the final decision. However, with a valid reason, including not paying rent, a landlord may have grounds to evict a tenant.
But you will observe certain procedures before initiating an eviction. First, you need to send your tenant a notice by certified mail informing them their rent is outstanding when it’s at least five days past the due date. After that, you will need to send a written rent demand that warns them to pay rent. This is the 14-day notice to pay rent or quit the premises.
Here is what to include in the notice:
General information
Your notice should include your name, the property’s address, current date, the tenant’s name and house number. It may be best to inform the tenant that this is not an eviction notice at the beginning of the letter to avoid misunderstandings.
The violation
You will then state the violation in your letter (failure to pay rent) and the clause they have breached on the rental agreement. List the months and amounts the tenant owes you.
Remedy options
Inform the tenant that they should pay the rent in full in 14 days or move out of the rental unit. And if they don’t, you may file an eviction lawsuit.
Who to contact
The last paragraph of your letter should inform the tenant who they can contact if they have questions.
A 14-day notice to pay rent or quit differs from a notice of eviction – it warns the tenant to pay rent. It will be best to get legal guidance when writing this notice to protect your rights.
