Free letter generator
Late rent notice
Remind a tenant that rent is past due: what is owed, the late fee, and the date to pay by. Download a PDF to print or mail, or copy the text into an email.
Late rent notice · Rent increase letter · Lease renewal letter
What to put in a late rent notice
A late rent notice is a short, factual reminder. It keeps a written record that you asked for payment, and it often gets the rent paid without any further steps.
- The date of the letter and the rental property address.
- The rent that was due and the date it was due.
- Any late fee, only if your lease allows one and only in the amount the lease and state law allow.
- The total now due and the date to pay by.
- How to pay, and how to reach you if the tenant is having trouble.
A reminder is not a pay-or-quit notice
Before a landlord can file an eviction for unpaid rent, most states require a formal notice with its own wording, deadline and delivery method. This letter is the friendly step before that. Examples, checked against the statutes in October 2026:
| State | Rule | Source |
|---|---|---|
| California | A notice to pay rent or quit gives 3 days, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and judicial holidays. | Code Civ. Proc. § 1161(2) |
| Florida | A 3-day notice for nonpayment excludes Saturdays, Sundays and court-observed holidays. | Fla. Stat. § 83.56(3) |
| New York | If rent is not received within 5 days of the due date, send written notice of non-receipt by certified mail. | Real Prop. Law § 235-e(d) |
| New York | Late fee only after 5 days, no more than $50 or 5% of monthly rent, whichever is less. | Real Prop. Law § 238-a |
| New York | A rent demand before a nonpayment case gives 14 days. | RPAPL § 711(2) |
Can I email a late rent notice?
For a friendly reminder, yes: use Copy text and paste it into an email or text. Keep a copy. Formal notices often must be delivered in person or by mail, so check your state's rules for those.
How much can I charge as a late fee?
Only what your lease says, and within your state's limits. New York caps it at $50 or 5% of the rent, whichever is less. Other states require the fee to be reasonable or set their own caps.
What if the tenant pays part of it?
Record the payment in your rent ledger and give a receipt that shows the balance remaining, so both of you agree on what is still owed.
These letters are templates for routine landlord communication, not legal advice. State and local rules change; check the current law for your property before you rely on a notice.
Related: Late rent notice · Rent increase letter · Lease renewal letter · rent receipt · all guides