diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/__init__.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/__init__.py
index a28a50d766f..d7ebfbbcd1f 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/__init__.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/__init__.py
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ PLATFORM_SCHEMA = vol.Schema({
 
 NOTIFY_SERVICE_SCHEMA = vol.Schema({
     vol.Required(ATTR_MESSAGE): cv.template,
-    vol.Optional(ATTR_TITLE, default=ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT): cv.string,
+    vol.Optional(ATTR_TITLE): cv.string,
     vol.Optional(ATTR_TARGET): cv.string,
     vol.Optional(ATTR_DATA): dict,
 })
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/aws_sns.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/aws_sns.py
index dec72b18633..31cac90105c 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/aws_sns.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/aws_sns.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import voluptuous as vol
 from homeassistant.const import (
     CONF_PLATFORM, CONF_NAME)
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TARGET, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, ATTR_TARGET, BaseNotificationService)
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 REQUIREMENTS = ["boto3==1.3.1"]
@@ -76,5 +76,6 @@ class AWSSNS(BaseNotificationService):
                               for k, v in kwargs.items() if v}
         for target in targets:
             self.client.publish(TargetArn=target, Message=message,
-                                Subject=kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE),
+                                Subject=kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE,
+                                                   ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT),
                                 MessageAttributes=message_attributes)
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/file.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/file.py
index ec79cab59ea..82ec2420df8 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/file.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/file.py
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import voluptuous as vol
 
 import homeassistant.util.dt as dt_util
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TITLE, PLATFORM_SCHEMA, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, PLATFORM_SCHEMA, BaseNotificationService)
 from homeassistant.const import CONF_FILENAME
 import homeassistant.helpers.config_validation as cv
 
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ class FileNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
         with open(self.filepath, 'a') as file:
             if os.stat(self.filepath).st_size == 0:
                 title = '{} notifications (Log started: {})\n{}\n'.format(
-                    kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE),
+                    kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT),
                     dt_util.utcnow().isoformat(),
                     '-' * 80)
                 file.write(title)
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/gntp.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/gntp.py
index 5b5d377e1ea..64033f03125 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/gntp.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/gntp.py
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import logging
 import os
 
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TITLE, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, BaseNotificationService)
 
 REQUIREMENTS = ['gntp==1.0.3']
 
@@ -59,5 +59,6 @@ class GNTPNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
 
     def send_message(self, message="", **kwargs):
         """Send a message to a user."""
-        self.gntp.notify(noteType="Notification", title=kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE),
+        self.gntp.notify(noteType="Notification",
+                         title=kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT),
                          description=message)
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/html5.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/html5.py
index 54727a60d3f..103ccc7885b 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/html5.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/html5.py
@@ -18,8 +18,8 @@ from homeassistant.const import (HTTP_BAD_REQUEST, HTTP_INTERNAL_SERVER_ERROR,
                                  HTTP_UNAUTHORIZED, URL_ROOT)
 from homeassistant.util import ensure_unique_string
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TARGET, ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_DATA, BaseNotificationService,
-    PLATFORM_SCHEMA)
+    ATTR_TARGET, ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, ATTR_DATA,
+    BaseNotificationService, PLATFORM_SCHEMA)
 from homeassistant.components.http import HomeAssistantView
 from homeassistant.components.frontend import add_manifest_json_key
 from homeassistant.helpers import config_validation as cv
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ class HTML5NotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
             'icon': '/static/icons/favicon-192x192.png',
             ATTR_TAG: tag,
             'timestamp': (timestamp*1000),  # Javascript ms since epoch
-            ATTR_TITLE: kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE)
+            ATTR_TITLE: kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT)
         }
 
         data = kwargs.get(ATTR_DATA)
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/instapush.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/instapush.py
index 028afb32468..7dbbbfced35 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/instapush.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/instapush.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import logging
 import requests
 
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TITLE, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
 from homeassistant.const import CONF_API_KEY
 from homeassistant.helpers import validate_config
 
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class InstapushNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
 
     def send_message(self, message="", **kwargs):
         """Send a message to a user."""
-        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE)
+        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT)
         data = {"event": self._event,
                 "trackers": {self._tracker: title + " : " + message}}
 
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/joaoapps_join.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/joaoapps_join.py
index 67ecd493a06..ca82b6bb934 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/joaoapps_join.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/joaoapps_join.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ https://home-assistant.io/components/notify.join/
 import logging
 import voluptuous as vol
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_DATA, ATTR_TITLE, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_DATA, ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, BaseNotificationService)
 from homeassistant.const import CONF_PLATFORM, CONF_NAME, CONF_API_KEY
 import homeassistant.helpers.config_validation as cv
 
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class JoinNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
     def send_message(self, message="", **kwargs):
         """Send a message to a user."""
         from pyjoin import send_notification
-        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE)
+        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT)
         data = kwargs.get(ATTR_DATA) or {}
         send_notification(device_id=self._device_id,
                           text=message,
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/nma.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/nma.py
index f37f5ca8bd0..ef75abb2fe4 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/nma.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/nma.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import xml.etree.ElementTree as ET
 import requests
 
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TITLE, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
 from homeassistant.const import CONF_API_KEY
 from homeassistant.helpers import validate_config
 
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ class NmaNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
         data = {
             "apikey": self._api_key,
             "application": 'home-assistant',
-            "event": kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE),
+            "event": kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT),
             "description": message,
             "priority": 0,
         }
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/pushbullet.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/pushbullet.py
index 20a6daebf05..7c924223ae1 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/pushbullet.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/pushbullet.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ https://home-assistant.io/components/notify.pushbullet/
 import logging
 
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TARGET, ATTR_TITLE, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TARGET, ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, BaseNotificationService)
 from homeassistant.const import CONF_API_KEY
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ class PushBulletNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
         call which doesn't require a push object.
         """
         targets = kwargs.get(ATTR_TARGET)
-        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE)
+        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT)
         refreshed = False
 
         if not targets:
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/pushetta.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/pushetta.py
index 234c8978452..441379b2285 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/pushetta.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/pushetta.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ https://home-assistant.io/components/notify.pushetta/
 import logging
 
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TITLE, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
 from homeassistant.const import CONF_API_KEY
 from homeassistant.helpers import validate_config
 
@@ -52,6 +52,6 @@ class PushettaNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
 
     def send_message(self, message="", **kwargs):
         """Send a message to a user."""
-        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE)
+        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT)
         self.pushetta.pushMessage(self._channel_name,
                                   "{} {}".format(title, message))
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/pushover.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/pushover.py
index 5ded1ebe778..de82bb4e819 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/pushover.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/pushover.py
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ import logging
 import voluptuous as vol
 
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TARGET, ATTR_DATA, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, ATTR_TARGET, ATTR_DATA,
+    BaseNotificationService)
 from homeassistant.const import CONF_API_KEY
 import homeassistant.helpers.config_validation as cv
 
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ class PushoverNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
         # Make a copy and use empty dict if necessary
         data = dict(kwargs.get(ATTR_DATA) or {})
 
-        data['title'] = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE)
+        data['title'] = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT)
 
         target = kwargs.get(ATTR_TARGET)
         if target is not None:
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/rest.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/rest.py
index 5cc556a1957..0a82b8d5d72 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/rest.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/rest.py
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ import requests
 import voluptuous as vol
 
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TARGET, ATTR_TITLE, BaseNotificationService, PLATFORM_SCHEMA)
+    ATTR_TARGET, ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, BaseNotificationService,
+    PLATFORM_SCHEMA)
 from homeassistant.const import (CONF_RESOURCE, CONF_METHOD, CONF_NAME)
 import homeassistant.helpers.config_validation as cv
 
@@ -71,7 +72,8 @@ class RestNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
         }
 
         if self._title_param_name is not None:
-            data[self._title_param_name] = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE)
+            data[self._title_param_name] = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE,
+                                                      ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT)
 
         if self._target_param_name is not None:
             data[self._target_param_name] = kwargs.get(ATTR_TARGET)
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/sendgrid.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/sendgrid.py
index 894b35a85d4..b0805338844 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/sendgrid.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/sendgrid.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ https://home-assistant.io/components/notify.sendgrid/
 import logging
 
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TITLE, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
 from homeassistant.helpers import validate_config
 
 REQUIREMENTS = ['sendgrid==3.2.10']
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ class SendgridNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
 
     def send_message(self, message='', **kwargs):
         """Send an email to a user via SendGrid."""
-        subject = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE)
+        subject = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT)
 
         data = {
             "personalizations": [
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/smtp.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/smtp.py
index 60fccc0c510..694058a11ce 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/smtp.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/smtp.py
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ import voluptuous as vol
 
 import homeassistant.helpers.config_validation as cv
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_DATA, PLATFORM_SCHEMA, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, ATTR_DATA, PLATFORM_SCHEMA,
+    BaseNotificationService)
 from homeassistant.const import (CONF_USERNAME, CONF_PASSWORD, CONF_PORT)
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -120,7 +121,7 @@ class MailNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
         Will send plain text normally, or will build a multipart HTML message
         with inline image attachments if images config is defined.
         """
-        subject = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE)
+        subject = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT)
         data = kwargs.get(ATTR_DATA)
 
         if data:
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/syslog.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/syslog.py
index 381a92394c3..8b36f0ea858 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/syslog.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/syslog.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ https://home-assistant.io/components/notify.syslog/
 import logging
 
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TITLE, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
 from homeassistant.helpers import validate_config
 
 _LOGGER = logging.getLogger(__name__)
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ class SyslogNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
         """Send a message to a user."""
         import syslog
 
-        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE)
+        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT)
 
         syslog.openlog(title, self._option, self._facility)
         syslog.syslog(self._priority, message)
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/telegram.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/telegram.py
index 8da916eb1f3..35d6a5a6977 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/telegram.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/telegram.py
@@ -106,10 +106,20 @@ class TelegramNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
         elif data is not None and ATTR_DOCUMENT in data:
             return self.send_document(data.get(ATTR_DOCUMENT))
 
+        text = ''
+
+        if title:
+            text = '{} {}'.format(title, message)
+        else:
+            text = message
+
+        parse_mode = telegram.parsemode.ParseMode.MARKDOWN
+
         # send message
         try:
             self.bot.sendMessage(chat_id=self._chat_id,
-                                 text=title + "  " + message)
+                                 text=text,
+                                 parse_mode=parse_mode)
         except telegram.error.TelegramError:
             _LOGGER.exception("Error sending message.")
             return
diff --git a/homeassistant/components/notify/xmpp.py b/homeassistant/components/notify/xmpp.py
index 68c0ce2979f..e5b7792776e 100644
--- a/homeassistant/components/notify/xmpp.py
+++ b/homeassistant/components/notify/xmpp.py
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ https://home-assistant.io/components/notify.xmpp/
 import logging
 
 from homeassistant.components.notify import (
-    ATTR_TITLE, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
+    ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT, DOMAIN, BaseNotificationService)
 from homeassistant.helpers import validate_config
 
 REQUIREMENTS = ['sleekxmpp==1.3.1',
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ class XmppNotificationService(BaseNotificationService):
 
     def send_message(self, message="", **kwargs):
         """Send a message to a user."""
-        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE)
+        title = kwargs.get(ATTR_TITLE, ATTR_TITLE_DEFAULT)
         data = "{}: {}".format(title, message) if title else message
 
         send_message(self._sender + '/home-assistant', self._password,
diff --git a/tests/components/notify/test_smtp.py b/tests/components/notify/test_smtp.py
index 7fa61fbdc24..bbaca71ee13 100644
--- a/tests/components/notify/test_smtp.py
+++ b/tests/components/notify/test_smtp.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ class TestNotifySmtp(unittest.TestCase):
         expected = ('Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"\n'
                     'MIME-Version: 1.0\n'
                     'Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit\n'
-                    'Subject: \n'
+                    'Subject: Home Assistant\n'
                     'To: testrecip@test.com\n'
                     'From: test@test.com\n'
                     'X-Mailer: HomeAssistant\n'