Late Rent / Late-Fee Notice
A late rent / late-fee notice from a landlord or property manager to a tenant — property and tenant, rent past due, late fee assessed (per the lease and after any grace period), total now due, a pay-by date, accepted payment methods, and next steps.
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Bay Vista Property Management +1 415 555 0130 · billing@bayvista.example NOTICE OF LATE RENT & LATE FEE Date: June 8, 2026 To: Alex Morgan Rental property: 412 Harbor St, Apt 3B, Springfield, IL 62704 Dear Alex Morgan, Our records show that rent for the above property, due on June 1, 2026, has not been received. Any grace period (5 days (expired)) has passed, so a late fee has been assessed Per Section 6 of the lease dated 2025-08-01. ======================================================== AMOUNT NOW DUE ======================================================== Rent past due: $1,850.00 Late fee: $75.00 Other past-due: $0.00 ---------------------------------------- TOTAL NOW DUE: $1,925.00 Please pay the total now due by June 15, 2026. Payment methods: Online portal, check, or money order to the office. No cash. If you have already paid, please disregard this notice and contact us so we can update our records. If payment is not received, we may proceed with further notice as permitted by your lease and applicable law. If you are experiencing hardship, please contact us to discuss options. This is a notice of past-due rent and a late fee — it is NOT an eviction or "pay-or-quit" notice. Sincerely, Bay Vista Property Management +1 415 555 0130 · billing@bayvista.example
About this template
A late-fee notice is the routine first step when rent is past due: it tells the tenant exactly what is owed and by when, in a tone that is firm but leaves room to resolve. The figure that matters is the **total now due** — this template adds the **past-due rent + the late fee + any other past-due charges** so there is one clear number, and it ties the late fee to the lease and to the **grace period**, because that is where landlords get into trouble. Late fees are heavily regulated: many states **require a grace period**, **cap the fee** or require it to be "reasonable," and require it to be **stated in the lease** — assessing an excessive or lease-unsupported fee can be unenforceable and expose you to liability, so reference the lease section and keep the fee within your state's limits. Give a clear **pay-by date** and **accepted payment methods**, and include a line inviting the tenant to reach out if they've already paid or are facing hardship — it preserves the relationship and often resolves the issue faster than escalation. Critically, this is a **courtesy/account notice, not a statutory "pay-or-quit" or eviction notice**: those have strict, state-specific form, content, and timing requirements, and you should use the proper statutory notice (and usually counsel) before pursuing eviction. Keep records of the notice and any payment, and follow your lease, state law, and any rent-control/just-cause rules.
When to use it
- Notifying a tenant that rent is past due and a late fee applies.
- Stating the total now due and a pay-by date.
- Documenting the late charge under the lease before any escalation.
- Opening the door to a payment conversation.
What to include
- Landlord/PM and tenant names and the property address.
- Rent due date, grace period, and lease reference for the fee.
- Past-due rent + late fee + other charges = total now due.
- Pay-by date and accepted payment methods.
- A note that this is not an eviction/pay-or-quit notice.