The notices and their periods
- 14-Day Notice to Quit — for nonpayment (M.G.L. c. 186 §§ 11–12). A tenant at will can cure by paying all rent due within 10 days (if no similar notice in the prior 12 months); a lease tenant can cure by paying all rent, interest, and costs by the answer date.
- Lease-violation notice — for non-rent violations, the period follows the lease — typically 7 or 30 days; if the lease is silent, give 30 days or one full rental period, whichever is longer.
- Expedited (illegal activity) — for drug-related or certain criminal use, M.G.L. c. 139 § 19 allows expedited termination with no cure opportunity.
Ending a tenancy and serving notice
To end a tenancy at will without cause, give notice equal to a full rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer, ending on the last day of a rental period.
After the notice expires, the landlord files a Summary Process Summons and Complaint (M.G.L. c. 239) in the Housing Court or District Court. As of 2025, notices to quit must include information about the tenant's right to counsel and local legal aid.
Cure rights and the answer date
Massachusetts gives strong cure rights: a tenant at will can pay-and-stay once per 12 months within 10 days, and a lease tenant can cure by paying all rent, interest, and costs up to the court answer date — with no cap on the number of times. Security-deposit missteps under c. 186 § 15B can also create counterclaims that offset a judgment.
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How many days' notice for nonpayment in Massachusetts?
14 days — a 14-Day Notice to Quit (M.G.L. c. 186 §§ 11–12), with cure rights for the tenant.
How much notice to end a tenancy at will in Massachusetts?
The longer of 30 days or one full rental period, ending on the last day of a rental period.
Can a Massachusetts tenant stop the eviction by paying?
Often yes — a tenant at will can pay all rent due within 10 days (once per 12 months), and a lease tenant can pay all rent, interest, and costs by the answer date.
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WriteMyNotice.com is a self-help document preparation service, not a law firm, and this page is general information, not legal advice. Eviction rules are strict and vary by state, county, and city — many cities add rent-control or just-cause requirements on top of state law, and an improper or mistimed notice can get an eviction case delayed or dismissed. Verify the current requirements for your property's location and, for contested or high-stakes evictions, consult a landlord-tenant attorney. Statute references verified June 2026.