Massachusetts Notice to Vacate: Notice Periods and Rules

In Massachusetts, tenants give at least 30 days written notice to end a month-to-month tenancy, and landlords give at least 30 days. For unpaid rent, the notice period is 14 days. The details, exceptions and statute citations are below.

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Massachusetts notice periods at a glance

Tenant ending a month-to-month tenancy	30 days Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 12
Landlord ending a month-to-month tenancy	30 days Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §§ 12-13
Notice for unpaid rent	14 days Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 11 (written lease) and § 12 (tenancy at will)
End of a fixed-term lease	A lease for a fixed term ends on its end date without a notice to quit unless the lease requires one; if the landlord accepts rent afterward, the tenant usually becomes a tenant at will.
How notice can be delivered	Must be in writing; the statute sets no delivery method. The notice runs from when the other party receives it, so landlords commonly use a constable or sheriff or keep proof of delivery (ch. 186, §§ 12-13).

Statute: notice equal to the interval between rent days or 30 days, whichever is longer. For monthly rent that means at least one full rental period, and courts generally expect the notice to end on a rent day. A 14-day nonpayment notice must include the statutory right-to-cure language; a tenant at will who has not had a nonpayment notice in the last 12 months can stop the termination by paying all rent due within 10 days of receiving it. Courts must pause nonpayment cases while an emergency rental assistance application is pending (ch. 239, § 15).

What a Massachusetts notice to vacate should include

The names of every tenant on the lease and the full address, including unit number
The date you are giving the notice and the date the tenancy ends
A move-out date that gives at least the minimum notice above, counted from the day the notice is delivered
For unpaid rent: the exact amount owed and how to pay it
Your name, signature and contact details
A record of how and when you delivered it (keep a copy)

Many month-to-month notices must also end on the last day of a rental period, so if rent is due on the 1st, the safest move-out date is the end of a month. Giving more notice than the minimum is fine; giving less usually makes the notice invalid.

Massachusetts notice to vacate FAQ

How much notice does a tenant have to give in Massachusetts?

For a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days in writing (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 12). If you have a fixed-term lease, check the lease: it may require notice before the end date or renew automatically.

How much notice does a landlord have to give in Massachusetts?

To end a month-to-month tenancy without a specific reason, at least 30 days (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §§ 12-13).

What is the notice period for unpaid rent in Massachusetts?

The tenant gets 14 days to pay or move out (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 11 (written lease) and § 12 (tenancy at will)). If the tenant does neither, the landlord can file an eviction case; only a court can order the tenant out.

How do you deliver a notice to vacate in Massachusetts?

Must be in writing; the statute sets no delivery method. The notice runs from when the other party receives it, so landlords commonly use a constable or sheriff or keep proof of delivery (ch. 186, §§ 12-13).

Do I need to give notice at the end of a fixed-term lease in Massachusetts?

A lease for a fixed term ends on its end date without a notice to quit unless the lease requires one; if the landlord accepts rent afterward, the tenant usually becomes a tenant at will.

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Sources

Checked October 2026. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules. This page is general information, not legal advice.