The Notice to Quit Letter is one of the formal legal documents that a landlord or a tenant serves for an amicable termination of the tenancy agreement. This letter informs the receiving party of the other’s decision on evacuation and the duration within which the premises should be vacated, usually for breach of the lease agreement, failure to pay rent, or simply because the tenancy has expired. The term ‘notice to quit’ simply means ‘notice to leave’.
A Notice to Quit Letter is generally issued prior to initiating the eviction process. Such a notice is intended to issue a warning that needs to be addressed concerning the tenant’s standing such as if he owes rent or for preparing to evacuate the premises. A tenant in such a situation may as well use this notice to notify the lessor of his or her intentions to terminate the lease provided there is scope for it in the agreement or the law.
Legal Standing
This document normally marks the start of the eviction process and as a rule, must follow the landlord-tenant laws of each state or location as appropriate. Failure to issue it in the correct structure or on time can lead to the dismissal of the notice in court. In most cases, a notice period of a number days is required, say 3, 30 or 60 days, as the case may be, according to the type of rental and the cause of termination.
Common Types
- 3-Day Notice to Quit (often for non-payment of rent)
- 30-Day Notice to Quit (used for month-to-month leases)
- Immediate Notice to Quit (in case of serious lease violations)
One of the most significant aspects of a Notice to Quit Letter is perfect exposition of the causes of termination as well as the deadline by which the tenant ought to leave before other negative implications are heard. Landlords are encouraged not to forget taking a hardcopy as evidence in the event things turn out differently than expected.
