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. This notice informs the tenant that they must either pay the overdue rent by a specified deadline or vacate the rental property. According to Tennessee law, landlords must provide tenants with a 14-day notice to pay or vacate before they can initiate formal eviction proceedings. If the tenant fails to pay the rent within this period or vacate the premises, the landlord may then file an eviction lawsuit, also known as a detainer action, 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 they must adhere to these rules to ensure that any eviction is legally valid.