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Got a 3-day pay-or-quit notice. How worried should I be?

CAtenant_anon1 month ago

Behind one month on rent. Landlord taped a 3-day notice to my door yesterday. What happens now?

2 replies

✓ Verified answer from a licensed attorney — shown first

Jamal Washington avatarJamal WashingtonVerified Attorney1 month ago

Brooklyn tenant-defense attorney here. The 3-day notice itself isn't an eviction — it's a precondition the landlord has to satisfy before filing an unlawful-detainer (UD) lawsuit. You have three options inside those three days: (1) pay the exact amount demanded (in many jurisdictions partial payment doesn't cure unless the landlord accepts it), (2) move out, or (3) stay and prepare to defend. Look closely at the notice — is the amount correct? Does it include any unpaid fees or charges that aren't legal in your jurisdiction? Is the cure period actually three days (some places require longer)? A defective notice is a complete defense. Get to a local tenant-defense legal aid same week. General info, not advice for your case.

Lawma Moderator1 month ago

lsc.gov/find-help locates the legal-aid office serving your zip code. Many also have walk-in clinics specifically for eviction notices.

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Please readThis is a community space for sharing personal experience — it is not legal advice, and posts here are not from Lawma or your attorney. We strongly encourage you to post under an anonymous handle, keep questions general, and avoid posting private details of your active case. For advice about your own situation, message your attorney.