A notice to pay rent or quit—also known as an eviction notice or notice to vacate due to late rent—is a written letter demanding a tenant who is late paying rent (1) pay the rent by a certain date or (2) quit (leave or vacate) the premises.
In Tennessee, a notice to pay rent or quit is a formal communication from a landlord to a tenant who is behind on rent, giving the tenant a specific amount of time to either pay the overdue rent or vacate the property. Under Tennessee law, landlords must provide a minimum of 14 days' notice for tenants who have a weekly rental agreement, or 30 days' notice for all other rental agreements, before they can file for eviction. This notice must be in writing and should include the amount of rent owed and the deadline by which the tenant must pay or vacate. If the tenant fails to comply with the notice, the landlord may then proceed with filing an eviction lawsuit, also known as a detainer warrant, in court. It's important for both landlords and tenants to understand that the eviction process is governed by state law and local regulations, and an attorney can provide guidance specific to individual circumstances.