Late Rent Notice Template
A late rent notice is a polite written reminder that rent is past due, showing the exact amount owed, any late fee and how to pay. It is not an eviction notice and doesn't start one. This free template keeps the tone friendly and the numbers exact, and the late fee it lists should match your free lease agreement template and your state's cap.
By LandlordTested editorial teamLast reviewed
Late Rent Notice
Free to use and edit. To get a Word or Google Docs copy, print to PDF or copy the text into a new document.
Late rent notice
Date of this notice: ______________
To (all tenants named on the lease): ______________________________________________
Rental property address: ______________________________________________
Unit: __________
Dear ______________________________,
Our records show that we have not received your full rent payment for ______________ (month). This is a friendly reminder, not an eviction notice.
Amount due
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Rent due on ______________ | $ |
| Amount received so far | $ |
| Unpaid rent | $ |
| Late fee under your lease (charged on ______________ ) | $ |
| Other charges under your lease: | $ |
| Total now due | $ |
Your lease sets a late fee of $ __________ (or __________ % of the rent) when rent is not paid by ______________. (Late fees are subject to your state’s limit and any grace period required under [STATE] law.)
How to pay
Please pay the total due by ______________ using one of these methods:
- Online or tenant portal: ______________________________
- Check or money order payable to: ______________________________
- Mail or drop off at: ______________________________
- Other: ______________________________
If something has come up
If you are having trouble paying, please contact me before ______________ so we can talk about it. A short conversation now is better for both of us than letting the balance grow. If you have already sent payment, thank you, and please let me know the date and method so I can match it.
Any payment plan we agree on will be put in writing and signed by both of us.
Sincerely,
Landlord or agent name: ______________________________________________
Signature: ______________________________ Date: ______________
Phone: ______________________ Email: ______________________________
Important
This letter is a courtesy reminder. It is not a notice to pay or quit and does not start an eviction. If rent stays unpaid, a separate formal notice that meets [STATE] law may follow. Some states require a specific late-rent notice by a specific method (for example, certified mail) before any further action; check your state’s rules.
Record of delivery
Delivered on ______________ by:
- Hand delivery
- Certified mail (tracking number: ______________________ )
- Email, text or tenant portal
- Posted at the unit
This template is general information, not legal advice. Check your state’s rules before using it.
On this page
How to fill in the late rent notice
Date and tenant details
Date it the day you send it. Name every adult on the lease and include the unit number. The opening line names the month that’s unpaid, so fill that in too.
Amount due table
Put each charge on its own line: the rent that was due, what the tenant has paid so far, the unpaid rent, the late fee and the date you charged it, and any other charges the lease allows. Here’s a typical month. Rent of $1,650 was due on the 1st, the tenant paid $1,000 on the 3rd, and the lease sets a $75 late fee after the 5th, which is within the presumed-reasonable limit in Texas for a small building. The table shows $650 unpaid rent, a $75 late fee and $725 total.
Keep rent and fees separate. In Colorado, for one, a tenant can’t be evicted solely for unpaid late fees, and a mixed total makes it hard to show what’s actually rent.
Late fee sentence
Fill in the fee from your lease, either a flat amount or a percentage, and the day it applies. If your lease doesn’t mention a late fee, don’t charge one.
How to pay and pay-by date
List the methods you accept and give a realistic deadline, usually a few days out. Don’t call this deadline a legal notice period. It’s a request.
The “if something has come up” paragraph
Leave it in. A tenant who calls you on day 3 is a lot easier to deal with than one who goes quiet until day 30. If you agree on a payment plan, put it in writing and have both of you sign it.
State late-fee rules to check before you send it
States without a statutory cap still expect a fee to be in the lease and reasonable. These states set a number or a waiting period:
| State | Late fee limit | Earliest you can charge it |
|---|---|---|
| Colorado | Greater of $50 or 5% of past-due rent | Rent at least 7 days late |
| Connecticut | Lesser of $5 a day up to $50, or 5% of the late payment | Rent 9 days late |
| Maine | 4% of one month’s rent | Rent more than 15 days late |
| Massachusetts | No fee or interest | Rent 30 days late |
| New York | Lesser of $50 or 5% of monthly rent | Rent more than 5 days late |
| North Carolina | Greater of $15 or 5% of monthly rent | Rent 5 days late |
| Oregon | Set formulas in ORS 90.260 | After the 4th day of the rental period |
| Texas | Presumed reasonable up to 12% (4 or fewer units) or 10% (more than 4) | 2 full days after the due date |
| Tennessee | 10% of past-due rent | After a 5-day grace period |
Others cap the amount with no waiting period, including Maryland (5%), Nevada (5%), Hawaii (8%), Minnesota (8%), New Mexico (10% of the rent for each period) and Virginia (the lesser of 10% of the periodic rent or 10% of the remaining balance).
New York goes further. Under RPL § 235-e, if rent is more than 5 days late you must send the tenant a written notice of nonpayment by certified mail. Skipping it can be used as a defense in a nonpayment case, so New York landlords should send that notice in addition to, or instead of, this friendly one.
Colorado also bans late fees on non-rent charges under HB25-1090, in effect since January 1, 2026.
Mistakes to avoid
- Treating this as the eviction notice. If rent stays unpaid, you need your state’s formal notice, served the way the statute says.
- Charging more than the lease says. The lease controls, and the state cap sits on top of it.
- Stacking daily fees with no ceiling. Where daily fees are allowed, most states cap the monthly total.
- Sending it only to tenants you’re annoyed with. Use the same timing and wording for everyone. Uneven treatment is how fair housing complaints start.
- Taking a partial payment without thinking. Note it on the receipt and, if you’ve already served a formal notice, check whether accepting it affects that notice in your state.
Questions landlords ask
The questions we get most, each answered in a paragraph.
Is a late rent notice the same as an eviction notice?
No. A late rent notice is a reminder. An eviction case usually starts with a formal notice to pay or quit, which has to follow your state's rules on the number of days, the wording and how it's delivered. Send the friendly notice first if you like, but don't expect it to count as the legal notice.
When should I send a late rent notice?
The day after any grace period ends, or the day after rent is due if your lease and state allow no grace period. Sending it promptly and the same way every time makes it routine rather than personal, and it gives the tenant a chance to fix an honest mistake before fees pile up.
How much can I charge as a late fee?
Your lease sets the fee, and your state may cap it. Iowa allows $12 a day up to $60 a month on rents of $700 or less. North Carolina allows the greater of $15 or 5% of the rent. Maryland caps it at 5%. In states without a fixed cap, courts still expect the fee to be reasonable and written in the lease.
Can I charge a late fee if rent is only one day late?
Only if your lease says so and your state allows it. Several states require a waiting period first. Texas requires rent to stay unpaid for 2 full days after the due date, New York for more than 5 days, Connecticut for 9 days, Maine for 15 days and Massachusetts for 30 days.