The notice a housing provider serves when rent is late: pay the past-due rent within 3 court days, or move out.
Think of it as a final bill with a timer on it. It tells the tenant: you owe this much rent, here is who to pay and how, and you have 3 days to pay or leave. The timer only runs on court days. Saturdays, Sundays and court holidays don’t count. If the tenant pays the full amount in time, it’s over. If not, the owner can file an eviction case, called an unlawful detainer (UD).
Our own plain-language summary of each paragraph. Not the form text.
C.A.R. says: talk to a local eviction attorney first, don’t use it for rent more than a year old, and don’t e-sign it. Two red flags. One: a loan backed by the federal government (FHA, VA, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac) or Section 8 — the CARES Act may require a 30-day notice instead. Two: a city rent or eviction ordinance, which can add steps. This page stays with you.
Write every adult tenant’s name. The form adds “and any other occupants” for you. Full address with the unit number. If the tenant gets mail somewhere else, there’s a line for that. A missing unit number is a cheap mistake that can cost you a month.
The core sentence. Within 3 days — counting from the day after service and skipping weekends and court holidays — the tenant must pay the past-due rent, or move out and give the place back. The tool below finds the exact last day.
List each unpaid period with its amount, then the total. Rent only: no late fees, utilities, damages, or a fee for serving the notice (banned by SB 611). Then: who checks are made out to, the specific person who takes the rent, their phone and address, and the days and hours they take payment in person. The law also lets you give a bank account or an agreed electronic payment method instead. The form says: nothing more than 1 year old without a lawyer.
The owner can sue for possession, the unpaid rent, and a penalty of up to $600 if the court finds the tenant acted with malice (CCP 1174). The owner “declares a forfeiture”: if the rent stays unpaid and the tenant stays, the lease ends. It also warns that a negative credit report may be filed.
The owner or agent signs and dates it. Ink on paper — the form says no electronic signatures.
Who served it, on what date, and how. The order is strict. A: hand it to the tenant. B: if they aren’t at home or work, leave it with a responsible adult there and mail a copy. C: only if A and B fail, post it somewhere visible on the property and mail a copy. Email doesn’t count. The person who served signs under penalty of perjury. Keep a copy; the judge will want it.
Why it is filled in this way
Tick each one you’ve done. Anything left unticked is a risk.
“Add the late fee, it’s in the lease.” No. A PRQ is rent only. One wrong dollar and the judge can toss the whole case. You start over, a month later.
“3 days means Friday.” Weekends and court holidays don’t count. Serve on a Friday and day 1 is Monday.
“I texted them a photo of it.” Text and email are not service. Hand it over, or follow step B then C, and fill in the proof of service.
Ken will reply and help you double-check the dates. No spam.
408-666-2825