The statute requires that the rent demand be clear, unequivocal and provide the tenant with “actual notice of the alleged amount due * * * period for which [the rental] claim is made * * * and [an] approximate good faith sum of rent assertedly due for each such period.” (Schwartz v Weiss-Newell, 87 Misc 2d 558, 561.) Notably, petitioner’s exhibit B gives a month-by-month breakdown of the rent and shows public assistance payments which were credited to the respondent’s account, however such a detailed breakdown was not included in the rent demand. Petitioner’s argument that a lump-sum breakdown is allowable, in this proceeding, under RPAPL 711 (2), is *696unpersuasive. Petitioner cites John Washington, Ltd. v Gulbreath (171 Misc 2d 337), where the Appellate Term (2d Dept) found that the demand was valid despite lump-sum statement for “miscellaneous” charges. That case is distinguished from the present one because the lump-sum statement in this case is rent and not “miscellaneous” charges. In addition, 90 E. 4th St. Apt. Corp. v Newberger (22 HCR 511A [Civ Ct, NY County]) is not applicable because the detailed breakdown, in the instant proceeding, shows that the respondent owes an unequal amount of monies for several of the 10 months from February 1996 through November 1996 and there is some ambiguity as to what amount of rent has been paid and by whom. Also, petitioner should clarify to the respondent that this is his “excess” portion of the rent for each of the months due and owing.