A 3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit is used to give any tenant notice that they owe rent for a certain period of time and they must either pay the rent due within 3 days or vacate the property within 3 days. If the tenant does not comply with the notice, an Unlawful Detainer action will have to be filed so that the owner may regain possession of the property. If the tenant chooses to vacate the property within the three days, the owner can still file a small claims complaint against the tenant for the unpaid rent. This notice is usually served on a tenant after the rent has become late according to the rental agreement, usually rent is due on the first and late on the fifth so the notice could be served on the sixth. (3-Day Notice to Pay Rent or Quit)