Got a 14-day rent demand in NY? What it means
A 14-day rent demand is the written notice a NY landlord must serve before a nonpayment case. What it must say and what to do before the deadline.
7 min read · Updated
A 14-day rent demand is a written notice from your landlord saying you owe rent and must either pay it or move out within 14 days. It is not an eviction and not a court case: it is the required first step before a New York landlord can file a nonpayment case against you.
You do not have to leave your home because of it. What you do in the next two weeks, though, can decide whether a court case is filed at all. Here is what the notice must contain, how it differs from the five-day late notice, and what to do now.
At a glance
- Deadline in the notice
- At least 14 days
- RPAPL § 711(2)
- Must be
- In writing and properly served
- Verbal, text or email demands do not count
- Must include
- Good Cause Eviction coverage notice
- RPL § 231-c
- What happens after
- Landlord may file a nonpayment case
- You then have 10 days to answer
What the law requires
Under Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law § 711(2), a landlord can bring a nonpayment case only after a written demand for the rent, with at least fourteen days’ notice, requiring either payment of the rent or possession of the apartment, has been served on you. A verbal demand, phone call or text does not meet that rule.
A valid demand should:
- Be in writing and give you at least 14 days to pay.
- State the rent owed. You can be evicted for unpaid rent only, not for late fees, legal fees or other added charges.
- Be served the way court papers are served (RPAPL § 735): handed to you, or left with a suitable adult at the apartment, or, if no one can be reached, attached to the door or slipped under it. If it wasn’t handed to you, copies must also be mailed by certified (or registered) and regular mail.
- Include or attach the Good Cause Eviction notice required by Real Property Law § 231-c, which says whether your apartment is covered by the Good Cause law and, if the landlord claims an exemption, which one.
The 5-day late notice is different
Real Property Law § 235-e adds a separate, earlier notice. If your landlord has not received your rent within five days of the due date, they must send you a written notice of the late payment by certified mail. If they don’t, you can raise that failure as a defense if they later sue you for nonpayment.
| 5-day late notice | 14-day rent demand | |
|---|---|---|
| Law | RPL § 235-e(d) | RPAPL § 711(2) |
| When | Rent not received within 5 days of due date | Before any nonpayment case is filed |
| How sent | Certified mail | Served like court papers |
| Gives you a deadline | ||
| Missing it is a defense in court | ||
| Starts a court case |
Late fees are also limited. A landlord may charge one only if rent is more than five days late, and it can’t exceed $50 or 5% of the monthly rent, whichever is less (Real Property Law § 238-a). Check yours with the late fee checker.
What to do before the 14 days run out
- 1
Read the notice and write down the deadline
Count 14 days from when it was served. Note the amount, the months it covers and the landlord or agent named on it. - 2
Check the amount against your records
Pull your lease, bank statements and rent receipts. Landlords must give receipts for cash and money orders, and for checks if you ask in writing (rent receipts in NY). - 3
Pay what you can, and get proof
If you can pay the full amount, pay it in a way that leaves a record and ask for a receipt. Paying in full before the deadline answers the demand. - 4
Apply for emergency help now, not later
HRA’s emergency assistance (the One Shot Deal), Homebase eviction prevention offices and rental assistance programs such as CityFHEPS can take time to process. HRA says you don’t need an eviction notice or court case to apply for a One-Shot Deal. Call 311 and ask for Homebase. - 5
Get free advice
Call Housing Court Answers at 718-557-1379 or 212-962-4795 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm), or 311 for the Tenant Helpline. - 6
Write to the landlord
If you dispute the amount or are waiting on assistance, say so in writing and keep a copy. If repairs are the problem, list them with dates.
If the 14 days pass and you haven’t paid
The landlord can then file a nonpayment petition in Housing Court. You will be served with a notice of petition and petition, and you must answer within 10 days at the Housing Court clerk’s office, in person or in writing (RPAPL § 732). If you don’t answer, the landlord can ask for a default judgment. See the full NYC eviction timeline and how to prepare for Housing Court.
Even then, a nonpayment case is still about money. Up until a marshal actually carries out an eviction, the court must cancel the warrant if you pay or deposit the full rent due, unless the landlord proves you withheld it in bad faith (RPAPL § 749(3)).
Defenses a rent demand can raise
Problems with the notice itself can become defenses in a later case. Tell the clerk about each one when you answer:
- No written demand, or less than 14 days’ notice.
- The demand was not properly served.
- The amount is wrong or includes fees that are not rent.
- No 5-day certified-mail late notice was sent (RPL § 235-e).
- The Good Cause notice required by RPL § 231-c was not attached.
- You already paid, or the landlord refused your payment.
- The apartment needs repairs. Serious conditions can support a claim for a rent reduction under the warranty of habitability.
Related help
Re-verified 2026-10-12 on nysenate.gov: RPAPL 711(2) written demand with at least 14 days’ notice, payment or possession in the alternative, served per RPAPL 735, with the RPL 231-c Good Cause notice (231-c lists 711(2) demands among the papers the notice must be attached to); RPAPL 735 service methods and one-day certified/registered plus first-class mailing; RPL 235-e(d) 5-day certified-mail notice and affirmative defense; 235-e(a)-(b) receipts for cash and non-personal-check payments, and for personal checks on written request; RPL 238-a(2) late fee only after 5 days, capped at the lesser of $50 or 5%; RPAPL 732 10-day answer; RPAPL 749(3) warrant vacated on full payment. Eviction only for rent, not fees: NY AG Residential Tenants’ Rights Guide. Homebase services, CityFHEPS/FHEPS and the One-Shot Deal (no eviction notice or court case needed to apply) from HRA pages. Hotline numbers from the HRA Legal Services for Tenants page.
Sources
- RPAPL § 711: grounds for a summary proceeding (14-day rent demand) · New York State Senate (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Real Property Law § 235-e: receipts and 5-day late notice · New York State Senate (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Real Property Law § 231-c: Good Cause Eviction notice · New York State Senate (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Real Property Law § 238-a: late fee limit · New York State Senate (accessed October 12, 2026)
- RPAPL § 732: nonpayment proceedings · New York State Senate (accessed October 12, 2026)
- RPAPL § 749: warrant vacated on payment of full rent · New York State Senate (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Residential Tenants’ Rights Guide · New York State Attorney General (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Homebase · NYC Human Resources Administration (accessed October 12, 2026)
- One-Shot Deal FAQ (flyer) · NYC Human Resources Administration (accessed October 12, 2026)
- RPAPL § 735: manner of service · New York State Senate (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Rental Assistance · NYC Human Resources Administration (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Legal Services for Tenants (Right to Counsel) · NYC Human Resources Administration (accessed October 12, 2026)
General information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules change; confirm with the agency or a professional before you act.