What Is a Notice?

A notice is a formal announcement or warning that can either be privately issued or publicly displayed. The purpose or aim of a formal notice is to inform an individual and/or the general public regarding a particular matter. 

According to an article by Find Law, a legal assistance website, there are eviction notices for cause and also without cause. With the former, it can be further classified into three basic types of eviction notices. These are pay rent notices, cure or quit notices and unconditional quit notices.       

Examples of Notices

There are several types of notices. It can be applied in different areas and industries, and each type of notice serves a particular purpose. From the academe to government to the private sector, written notices are used for various occasions and different scenarios. The following are just some common examples of written notices. 

Eviction Notice. An eviction notice is one of the most commonly used notices. In business, property management and real estate, it is used when delinquent tenants or borders fail to pay their rent or uphold their end of the bargain. Usually, a final eviction notice is preceded by a series of warnings- whether verbal or written. A warning letter is issued to the tenant to give them the opportunity to rectify their situation. But if a tenant fails to resolve their issues, the landlord or property manager may be left with no choice but to evict the tenant. A formal eviction notice generally comes with conditions and in grave circumstances, an ultimatum is given as well. Reasons for evicting a tenant can vary both in case and severity. Common grounds for eviction include failure to pay monthly rent or incomplete payments. Criminality and illegal activity are also serious reasons that can result in immediate eviction. School Notice. For schools and universities, announcements and pronouncements are essential. With large communities, administrators must find efficient ways to disseminate information to the entire school population. A school notice can serve different objectives and cover a number of subjects. The subject matter can be about an important school announcement or an issue that needs clarification. The school community is usually notified about holidays and school closures via printed signs, memos, or official letters. It is possible for school notices to come in different forms. It would highly depend on the administrators. It is essentially their call to decide which format is best to convey the information. It would also depend on the objective of the notice. If the notice is discipline-related and meant for only one individual, then a formal letter would be the best form of relaying information.Past Due Rent Notice. Another type of notice is a past due rent notice. It is less severe than an eviction notice, but it can serve as an early warning for erring tenants. The failure to pay rent on time is a common issue that many landlords have to contend with. However, there can be valid reasons for a failure to pay monthly dues on time. And most tenants usually offer a grace period of a few weeks for late payments. But if the tenant or border is consistently late in their dues without any reasonable explanation, then a past due rent notice is necessary. If the tenant fails to act on the past due rent notice, an eviction letter may eventually follow. For landlords, it is important to make tenants understand that there are rules that must be adhered to, as long as they reside on the property. The timely payment of dues must be clearly stated in the lease contract agreement. Employee Notice. An employee notice can have several objectives. The notice can either have a positive or negative implication. For the latter, an employee may receive a formal notice or a warning letter regarding poor job performance or decorum problems. Disciplinary issues would normally elicit a formal notice from management. Warning letters may also precede it; and if no resolution or action is taken, the employee in question may face serious consequences including suspension or termination of contract. Employee notices are usually issued by Human Resources, because their main role is to oversee all employee affairs. So whether it is a notice of promotion or a disciplinary notice, the employee at the receiving end of it must be held accountable for his or her actions.

Tips for Creating a Notice

In creating a formal written notice, you need to practice both clarity and brevity. Whatever the objective for issuing the notice, make sure that is comprehensible and based on facts. The next time you are tasked to draft any kind of notice, keep in mind these simple but useful tips: 

Format is key. Since notices can come in different forms and sizes, there is obviously no single format that will apply. A notice can come in the form of a written memo or a basic signage. For the latter, it is all the more important to establish the proper format. Since these are typically public announcements, the text and font will matter. You have to make sure that the size of the text and its font are legible enough for the public to read. You can even get creative with your notice. The visual aspect of it, especially for printed signs, must be taken into account. Use bold and loud colors to draw attention to your announcement. Incorporating pictures and logos can also help attract attention. Keep it short and direct. Another essential tip to keep in mind is to keep your notice straightforward. Any pronouncement or instruction that’s too long and complicated can fail to meet its purpose. Notices, especially printed signages, should be short and direct to the point. The language and words used should reflect accuracy and urgency. If the notice is for public consumption, then you need to make sure that it is brief and plain enough for anyone to understand. Anything too complex or complicated can backfire. As stated earlier, the key is exercising brevity and clarity. Brevity means conveying your message in the shortest and most direct way possible. You can deliver more impact when you use straightforward messaging rather than indirect language that beats around the bush. It’s all about effective communication and information dissemination. A notice is basically a tool to convey information and educate. As mentioned in previous sections, it can either be privately issued or it can also be a public pronouncement. The former is meant to inform the general public while a private notice (e.g, warning letter) is typically addressed to just one individual. But in both cases, it is all about communicating or disseminating important information. With this, it’s important to ask what is the most efficient and effective way of conveying your message. Ideally, your notice should be formal in tone and also carry with it a sense of authority and urgency. This must be reflected in the language and words you choose.

How to Create a Notice

To create a formal written notice, you have to know your purpose for drafting one. And if you are looking for reliable sample templates that you can use as a reference guide, the editable and printable notices above can save you a lot of time and effort. Simply select one that meets your needs and follow the basic steps below. 

Step 1: Title and Objective

The first step in crafting a written notice is to provide the title and establish your objective. As discussed in earlier sections, there can be many different types of notices. Each one can serve a different purpose. It is important to be clear about your purpose behind the written notice. If it is merely to announce an important matter, then always try to specify the subject or topic in the title line. This is usually just a phrase or in some instances, the word ‘notice’ itself can serve as a generic title. It is crucial to know what your main objective is for creating the notice. Whether the goal is to reprimand an erring employee or to issue a stern warning to a delinquent tenant, it helps to be clear about your objectives from the start.   

Step 2: Formal Announcement 

The next step is to formally inform the recipient of why they are receiving the notice. In a way, the declaration can serve as an opening statement. It is vital for your recipient or audience to immediately be informed of the nature of the notice. How much detail you disclose is largely up to you. But ideally, you need to provide all the relevant details in a formal notice. Although it may be brief, the notice should be loaded with information. The recipient has the right to know and to be informed, especially if the notice is particularly critical or berating. Keep this section brief and straight to the point, a couple of lines should do.     

Step 3: Conditions

After stating the formal announcement, the next step is to enumerate the various conditions that apply. Note that not all formal notices will contain terms or conditions. But in the case of eviction or past due rent notices, these usually demand conditions or even ultimatums. Most of these are on a case-to-case basis, so the specific conditions will depend on individual circumstances. For example, tenants who receive a notice of past due rent are usually required to settle their accounts by a specific date. These types of conditions are common but often necessary in order to exact accountability and fairness.     

Step 4: Authorization 

The last step in writing a notice is to reinforce authority. If there is a recipient, then there must also be a sender. If you are tasked to draft the notice, make sure to include the signatory’s name and designation. Leave adequate space at the bottom of the notice for the authority figure to sign. Having an authorization statement helps legitimize the notice and gives it considerable weight. Moreover, you can also utilize this section to invite other concerns or clarifications. Understandably, there will be recipients who will question or raise concerns regarding the notice. Thus, it is important that you also indicate your contact information in case they need to get in touch with you. 

FAQs

How do I write a simple notice letter?

To write a basic notice letter, make sure to exercise objectivity and impartiality. Your statements and arguments should be based on fact and evidence. Refer to the previous section for a more detailed instruction guide on how to create a formal notice.

How do I write a notice to my employee?

To write a notice to an employee, indicate the employee’s basic information and state the reasons for the issuance of the notice. If certain terms and conditions apply, be sure to identify and enumerate these clearly.

How do you write an immediate notice?

An immediate notice’s tone should have a sense of urgency. Indicate the specific date, deadline or conditions that apply. For more details, refer to the tutorial guide above on how to craft a notice.

A written notice should be brief, direct and loaded with objective information. Browse the wide selection of printable notices above for more ideas! Choose a template that suits your needs and download a free notice template now!