Lease dictionary
Pay or quit notice
A written notice giving you a short deadline to pay overdue rent or move out before the landlord can file for eviction.
A pay or quit notice is usually the first formal step toward evicting a tenant for nonpayment. It states the amount owed and the deadline, which varies by state and sometimes by city.
The notice is not an eviction. If you pay in full within the deadline, the landlord generally can't proceed on that notice. If you don't, they can file a court case, and only a court order can remove you.
Watch out
Check the amount against your own records. Notices that bundle in late fees or other charges may be defective in states that limit what counts as rent.
See it in action
The Tenant rights by state puts this term to work for you.