To end a tenancy at will (month-to-month), Massachusetts requires written notice equal to one full rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer, under M.G.L. c. 186 § 12. Fixed-term leases generally end on their stated expiration date without separate notice unless the lease says otherwise.
Under M.G.L. c. 186 § 12, a tenancy at will may be terminated by written notice. If "the rent reserved is payable at periods of less than three months, the time of such notice shall be sufficient if it is equal to the interval between the days of payment or thirty days, whichever is longer." For a typical month-to-month tenancy, that means at least 30 days' (or one full rental period's) written notice, given by either landlord or tenant. The statute also allows the notice to include an offer of a new tenancy on different terms without invalidating it. A fixed-term lease ordinarily ends on its own expiration date; if the tenant stays on with the landlord's consent, a tenancy at will is created and § 12 notice rules then apply.
No specific statutory penalty; a termination notice that does not meet the § 12 interval (one rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer) is defective and will not support a no-fault eviction.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Fall River, MA
Fall River prohibits all noises that menace health or interrupt sleep between 10 PM and 7 AM on weekdays and 10 PM to 8 AM on Sundays. The city's noise regul...
Fall River, MA
Fall River addresses barking and nuisance dogs under MGL Ch. 140 §157. A dog that is a habitual barker or creates a nuisance may result in a citation with a ...
Fall River, MA
Fall River regulates construction noise under its general noise ordinance provisions. Construction activities that create excessive noise are prohibited duri...
Fall River, MA
Fall River's zoning code Ch. 86 §86-441 requires parking areas to be set back at least 10 feet from front lot lines and from abutting residential property li...
Fall River, MA
Fall River regulates the parking of trailers, semitrailers, and large vehicles on city streets under §70-320. Commercial buses designed to carry 7+ persons m...
Fall River, MA
Fall River enforces street parking regulations under Ch. 70 of the Revised Ordinances. A winter parking ban is declared when 3+ inches of snow are predicted,...
See how Fall River's lease termination & notice to vacate rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.