Legal Definitions - cure or quit

Cure or Quit

A cure or quit notice is a formal written communication from a landlord to a tenant. It informs the tenant that they are violating a specific term or condition of their lease agreement. This notice provides the tenant with a limited timeframe to either "cure" (correct or stop) the specified violation or "quit" (vacate) the rental property. If the tenant fails to remedy the violation or move out within the designated period, the landlord may then proceed with legal action to evict them. The specific timeframe and acceptable reasons for such a notice are typically outlined in the lease agreement itself or by state and local landlord-tenant laws.

• Example 1: Unauthorized Occupant

  Sarah's lease agreement for her apartment explicitly states that only the named tenants are permitted to reside on the premises. However, her cousin, Mark, moves in with her for an extended period without notifying the landlord or being added to the lease. The landlord discovers Mark living there and issues Sarah a cure or quit notice. This notice informs Sarah that she is violating the occupancy clause of her lease and must either have Mark move out (cure the violation) or vacate the apartment herself (quit) within the specified timeframe, usually a few days to a week, depending on local laws and the lease.

• Example 2: Unauthorized Business Activity

  David rents a commercial space with a lease that prohibits using the premises for any purpose other than a retail clothing store. He decides to start a side business manufacturing custom furniture in the back room, bringing in woodworking equipment and raw materials. When the landlord learns of David's manufacturing operation, which is a clear deviation from the permitted use outlined in the lease, they can issue a cure or quit notice. This notice demands that David cease the furniture manufacturing and remove the associated equipment (cure the violation) or terminate his tenancy and move out of the commercial space (quit) within the legally stipulated period.

• Example 3: Failure to Maintain Landscaping

  Emily rents a house with a yard, and her lease agreement includes a clause requiring tenants to maintain the landscaping, including regular mowing and weeding. Emily neglects the yard for several months, allowing the grass to grow very tall and weeds to overrun the flowerbeds. The landlord observes the unkempt yard, which violates the lease's maintenance clause. They send Emily a cure or quit notice, instructing her to bring the landscaping back into compliance with the lease terms (cure the violation) within a set number of days. If Emily fails to mow the lawn and address the weeds, the landlord would then have grounds to initiate eviction proceedings.