📘 7-Day vs 20-Business-Day Letter of Demand: How to Get it Right Every Time

Confused about when to use a 7-day vs 20-business-day letter of demand? Here’s how to avoid costly mistakes and protect your clients every time.

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If you’ve ever hesitated over whether to send a 7-day vs 20-business-day letter of demand to a tenant, you’re not alone.

It’s one of the most common mistakes we see rental agents make — and unfortunately, getting it wrong can have serious consequences for your landlord client and your reputation.

Why Does It Matter?

The type of LOD you send — and the notice period you give — depends on the nature of the breach and the provisions of the Rental Housing Act and the Consumer Protection Act.

✅ In some situations, a 7-calendar-day notice is correct.

✅ In others, you must give 20 business days to remedy the breach.

But keeping track of which is which isn’t always easy — especially when you’re under pressure.

What’s the Risk of Getting It Wrong?

If you send the wrong notice, the process may have to be restarted — which could delay legal action and result in additional losses for the landlord.

In those cases, the landlord could hold the agent and/or agency liable for any financial loss suffered as a result of the delay caused by the incorrect notice.

When to Use a 7-Day vs 20-Business-Day Letter of Demand

Our 7-day vs 20-business-day letter of demand cheatsheet explains exactly when each notice period applies.

✅ The 7-day notice is typically used in specific breaches where immediate action is required, such as…

✅ The 20-business-day notice applies in other situations, often aligned with the Consumer Protection Act.

The cheatsheet provides examples of each and outlines the correct process to follow.

Why Use Our Cheatsheet?

We created this tool to help you avoid costly mistakes and protect both your landlord clients and your professional reputation. It’s a quick reference you can save, share with your team, and consult anytime you’re issuing an LOD.

📥 Get your FREE LODs Cheatsheet now by completing the form below.

LOD CheatSheet Download

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Stay Informed & Stay Protected

If you’d like to receive more practical tools, updates on rental legislation, and exclusive invites to our live workshops, keep an eye on our latest articles and resources.

You can also read the full Rental Housing Act and the Consumer Protection Act for more context on how these notices fit into South African rental law.