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 Virginia, a notice to pay rent or quit is a legal document that a landlord must provide 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 is typically five days. This is in accordance with Virginia Code § 55.1-1245, which mandates that landlords provide tenants with a written notice allowing the five-day period to pay the rent or vacate before the landlord can initiate eviction proceedings. If the tenant fails to comply with the notice by either paying the rent or vacating the premises, the landlord may then file an unlawful detainer action in court to proceed with the eviction process. It is important for both landlords and tenants to understand their rights and obligations under Virginia's landlord-tenant laws, and an attorney can provide guidance specific to individual circumstances.