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New York 14-Day Rent Demand

The written demand New York law requires before a landlord can start a nonpayment case: pay within 14 days or move out. Fill in the form, check the dates, download a PDF.

RPAPL § 711(2)14 days after serviceGood Cause notice attachedFree PDF

Not sure this is the right notice? See which one you need.

Not legal advice. A self-help tool, not a law firm. Full disclaimer below the form.

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Not legal advice. LandlordSquare is a self-help document tool, not a law firm. Using it does not create an attorney-client relationship, and we don't guarantee that any notice is legally sufficient for your situation. Laws change. You are responsible for checking the current law, your lease and local rules, and for serving the notice correctly. When in doubt, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

What a 14-day rent demand is

Before a New York landlord can start a nonpayment eviction case, the tenant must be served with a written demand for the rent that gives at least 14 days to either pay or move out. The rule is in RPAPL § 711(2), and the demand must be served the same way as court papers under RPAPL § 735.

The attachment many landlords miss

Since the Good Cause Eviction Law took effect, § 711(2) says the 14-day notice "shall append or contain" the notice required by Real Property Law § 231-c. That notice says whether the unit is covered by the Good Cause Eviction Law and, if it is exempt, why. The law requires the notice whether or not your unit is covered, inside NYC or not. Our generator attaches the full § 231-c text as a separate page and marks the boxes from your answers.

What goes in the demand

  • Rent only. Under RPAPL § 702, late fees, legal fees and other charges are not "rent" and cannot be sought in a residential nonpayment case. List each month and its amount.
  • Every tenant named on the lease, the full address and apartment number, and the county.
  • The choice the law describes: pay the rent or give up possession within 14 days after service.
  • How and where the tenant can pay.

How to serve it

RPAPL § 735 allows three methods, in this order:

  1. Personal delivery to the tenant.
  2. Substituted service: leave it with a person of suitable age and discretion who lives or works at the premises, and within one day mail copies by certified (or registered) mail and regular first-class mail.
  3. Conspicuous-place service: only if admittance can't be obtained and no suitable person is found after a reasonable attempt, affix it to a conspicuous part of the premises or slide it under the entrance door, and mail the same two ways within one day.

Many landlords use a non-party adult (18+) process server, so the server can sign an affidavit of service. The PDF includes a Record of Service page.

How the 14 days are counted

Under General Construction Law § 20, the day of service is not counted. If the last day falls on a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, § 25-a moves it to the next business day. The generator does this for you and shows the earliest day a case could be filed. When service is by mail-plus-delivery or posting, courts can differ on when service is complete, so check with an attorney before filing.

Don't forget the 5-day notice

Separately, RPL § 235-e(d) requires a landlord who has not received rent within five days of the due date to send a written notice by certified mail. If the landlord doesn't, the tenant can use that as a defense in a nonpayment case. Make the 5-day late rent notice here.

Frequently asked questions

Is a 14-day notice the same as an eviction?

No. It is a demand for rent. If the rent is not paid within 14 days after service, the landlord may then start a nonpayment case in court. Only a court can order an eviction.

Can I include late fees in the 14-day demand?

No. RPAPL § 702 says only rent can be sought in a residential nonpayment proceeding; fees, charges and penalties cannot, whatever the lease says.

Do I need the Good Cause notice if my building is exempt?

Yes. RPAPL § 711(2) requires the 14-day notice to include the § 231-c notice stating whether the unit is or is not covered, and if exempt, why.

Can I mail the 14-day demand?

Mailing alone is not one of the RPAPL § 735 methods. Mailing by certified and regular mail is required in addition to substituted or conspicuous-place service.

Does this work for New York City and the rest of the state?

Yes. The 14-day rule and the § 231-c notice apply statewide. Whether the Good Cause Eviction Law covers the unit differs: it applies in NYC unless an exemption fits, and outside NYC only where the locality has opted in.

Related notices

Sources

Statute text read on October 25, 2026. Laws change; check the source before relying on it.