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 Wisconsin, a notice to pay rent or quit is a legal document that a landlord can serve to a tenant who is late on their rent. This notice informs the tenant that they must either pay the overdue rent by a specified deadline or vacate the premises. The specific time frame for the tenant to take action depends on the terms of the lease and state law. Under Wisconsin Statutes Section 704.17, if a tenant is late on rent, the landlord must provide a 5-day notice to pay or vacate. If the tenant does not comply within those 5 days, the landlord may begin eviction proceedings. However, if the tenant has previously received a notice for nonpayment of rent within the year, the landlord may give a 14-day notice to vacate without the option to pay the rent. It's important for both landlords and tenants to understand their rights and obligations under Wisconsin law when dealing with late rent and potential eviction.