Notice to Cure

A notice to cure gives a resident a chance to fix a problem before you take bigger steps. It is used for violations that can be corrected, such as an unauthorized pet, unapproved occupant, trash left on a balcony, a noise problem, or a vehicle that does not belong. The notice names the violation, cites the lease section, gives a deadline to fix it, and explains what happens if it is not fixed.

Your lease and state law decide how many days you must give, how the notice must be delivered, and whether a cure period is required at all. Some violations cannot be cured, like certain illegal acts, and may allow a notice without a chance to fix. Nonpayment of rent usually follows a different path, often a pay or quit notice.

Example: a resident's unauthorized dog is noticed during a work order. You send a written notice citing the pet addendum, giving five days (or whatever your state and lease require) to apply for the pet, remove the dog or request an accommodation if it is an assistance animal. You follow up on the deadline and record what happened.

The common mistakes are vague notices, wrong deadlines, unequal enforcement and ignoring an accommodation request that is hidden in the response. Enforce rules the same way for every resident. Keep photos, dates and copies. Have counsel review your template, and check local law before sending.