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 West Virginia, 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 rental property. The required notice period before a landlord can initiate an eviction proceeding is not specified in state statutes, so it typically defaults to the terms outlined in the lease agreement. If the tenant fails to pay the rent or vacate the premises within the time frame specified in the notice, the landlord may then proceed with filing an eviction lawsuit, known as an unlawful detainer action, in the appropriate court. It is important for both landlords and tenants to understand their rights and obligations under West Virginia law and the terms of their lease when dealing with a pay rent or quit situation.