Add a Last a Name Field Legal Massachusetts Evictions Forms For Free

Tenants at will If you are evicting for a reason other than nonpayment, or for no reason, you must give the tenant a 30 day Notice to Quit. If the eviction is for nonpayment, you must give a 14 day Notice to Quit.

In Massachusetts, it is illegal for a landlord, on their own, to remove tenants and occupants and their belongings from a rented apartment, room, or home without first getting a court order. The court case that a landlord files to get a court order is called summary process (the legal term for an eviction).

A Tenant at Will is one who occupies a rented apartment without a lease, but pays rent periodically (typically monthly). Either the landlord or the tenant may terminate this arrangement at any time by giving written notice of 30 days or one full rental period in advance, whichever is longer. No reason is required.

Tenancy at will The landlord or tenant can end a month-to-month tenancy-at-will by giving a written 30 days (minimum) notice to quit that must expire at the end of a rental period. Pay special attention if the notice to quit is given in February, which has less than 30 days.

Just causes for eviction include nonpayment of rent, noncompliance with lease terms, chronically late rent payments, and the intention of the landlord to occupy the unit themselves or rent the unit to an immediate family member.

The landlord cannot request that tenants must use a professional cleaning company, or a cleaning service at all. The landlord can only request the same level of cleanliness and hygiene as it was documented at the start of the tenancy, detailed in the inventory report. How that is achieved is up to the tenant.

No state law requires landlords to repaint a rental unit in between tenants. Some local (city or county) ordinances might require landlords to repaint under certain circumstances.

Key Changes and Updates to Massachusetts Eviction Laws Increased notice periods: One significant change is the extension of notice periods for evictions. The new law requires landlords to provide tenants with a longer notice in cases of nonpayment of rent or lease violations.

Generally, a landlord cannot take possession of the rental property, physically remove the tenant or their personal property, or change the locks without going through a court. Depending on the reason for eviction, a landlord must provide the tenant either a 14-Day or 30-day Notice to Quit.