Kentucky 7-Day Notice of Non-Payment of Rent

Last Updated: January 28, 2023.

About this Form

This form letter is a legally-compliant 7-Day Notice of Non-Payment of Rent for use in Kentucky. It is professionally crafted to meet the requirements outlined in Kentucky Revised Statutes 383.660. This notice letter serves as the first step in the eviction process, giving the tenant the option to either pay all past-due rent within seven (7) days of receipt of the letter or to vacate the premises. The form letter is a standard, unlocked Microsoft Word document, reusable, customizable to fit your specific situation, and can be downloaded immediately after purchase.

Steps for Delivering Proper Notice of Non-Payment of Rent in Kentucky

Under Kentucky law (KRS 383.660), if a tenant fails to pay rent when it is due, the landlord can provide the tenant written notice of non-payment and the landlord's intention to terminate the rental agreement if the tenant does not pay the past due rent in full within seven (7) days. The following is a description of the steps to deliver proper notice of non-payment of rent to a tenant in Kentucky under KRS 383.660:

Step 1: Review the Rental Agreement

The landlord must carefully review the tenant's rental agreement to determine whether the lease specifies a more extended grace period for the tenant to pay rent than the minimum of seven (7) days required by Kentucky law. If the lease specifies a period longer than seven (7) days that the landlord must wait before the tenant is in default, your notice to the tenant must reflect the correct number of days.

Step 2: Prepare the Notice of Non-Payment

The landlord should prepare a written notice that includes the following information:

1. The amount of rent that is currently unpaid
2. A statement that the rent is due and unpaid
3. A statement indicating that the rental agreement will be terminated if the tenant fails to pay the rent within seven (7) days of receiving the notice, or within the timeframe specified in the lease agreement, if it exceeds seven (7) days

Step 3: Deliver the Notice

The notice can be delivered by one of several methods, including:

1. Certified U.S. Mail, Return Receipt Requested
2. Hand delivery by the landlord or an agent of the landlord
3. Posting the notice on the tenant's door or another conspicuous location

Step 4: Retain a copy of the Notice

The landlord should retain a copy of the notice, regardless of the method of delivery. If the notice was sent by Certified U.S. Mail, the landlord should retain the return receipt as proof of delivery. If the notice was hand-delivered, the landlord should keep a copy of the notice with the signature of the tenant or witness who was present during the delivery.

Step 5: Wait for the Tenant to Pay Rent

If the tenant pays the rent within seven (7) days of receipt of the notice (or the period stated in the lease if longer than seven days), the landlord may not terminate the rental agreement. However, if the tenant does not pay the rent within the required time frame, the landlord may proceed with terminating the rental agreement.

Step 6: Terminate the Rental Agreement

If the tenant does not pay the rent within seven (7) days (or the period stated in the lease if longer than seven days), the landlord may terminate the rental agreement by giving the tenant written notice of termination. The notice of termination should include the date on which the rental agreement will end.