Massachusetts Notice to Terminate Tenancy (No Cause) (30-Day)
Create a free Massachusetts notice to terminate tenancy (no cause). Massachusetts requires a 30-day notice to terminate tenancy (no cause). Fill in the details, preview it live, and download a PDF or email it.
Massachusetts requirement
Massachusetts requires a 30-day notice to terminate tenancy (no cause). For a tenancy at will (the MA equivalent of month-to-month), M.G.L. c.186 §12 requires written notice equal to the interval between rent-payment days OR 30 days, whichever is longer. For a standard month-to-month (rent paid monthly) this is 30 days, and the notice must expire at the end of a rental period. Estates at will may alternatively be ended by either party on three months' notice. Fixed-term leases simply expire at the end of the term (no termination notice unless the lease requires one).
Tenant Name(s)
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⚠ Massachusetts requires a 30-day notice for a notice to terminate tenancy (no cause); the count runs from the date of SERVICE, and some states exclude weekends/holidays — verify before relying on a date. For a tenancy at will (the MA equivalent of month-to-month), M.G.L. c.186 §12 requires written notice equal to the interval between rent-payment days OR 30 days, whichever is longer. For a standard month-to-month (rent paid monthly) this is 30 days, and the notice must expire at the end of a rental period. Estates at will may alternatively be ended by either party on three months' notice. Fixed-term leases simply expire at the end of the term (no termination notice unless the lease requires one).
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (No Cause) (Massachusetts)
NOTICE TO TERMINATE TENANCY (NO CAUSE)
Date of Notice: ________________
From (Landlord/Agent): [LANDLORD/AGENT NAME], [LANDLORD ADDRESS]
To: [TENANT NAME(S)], Tenant(s) in possession of: [PROPERTY ADDRESS]
YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that your month-to-month tenancy is terminated. You are required to vacate and surrender possession of the property within 30 days after this notice is served on you. This notice ends the tenancy; rent remains due through the termination date.
If you do not comply with this notice within the time stated, the landlord may begin legal proceedings to recover possession of the property under M.G.L. c.186 §§ 11, 12 (notice to quit); summary process under M.G.L. c.239.
Only a court can order you to move out. The landlord may NOT lock you out, remove your belongings, or shut off your utilities; doing so is illegal.
How this notice may be served: A notice to quit may be served by a constable or sheriff (often by leaving it at the tenant's last and usual address) or sent by the landlord, including by first-class/certified mail; many landlords use in-hand or constable service to ensure proof. After the notice period, the landlord must serve the Summary Process Summons and Complaint per Uniform Summary Process Rule 2 / Mass. R. Civ. P. 4 (constable or sheriff; if not made in hand, a first-class mailing copy is also required), then file in District/Housing Court. A residential nonpayment notice to quit must be accompanied by the state's Notice to Quit Attestation Form.
_______________________________________
[LANDLORD/AGENT NAME] — Landlord / Authorized Agent
[LANDLORD ADDRESS]
Date: ________________
PROOF OF SERVICE
I served this notice on the tenant(s) on ____________ (date).
Method of service (use a method permitted in your state — see the service note above):
_______________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________ Date: ____________
Signature of person serving the notice
Email yourself a copy (PDF)
Self-help template, not legal advice. You cannot remove a tenant yourself — serve a proper notice and, if needed, file in court. Confirm Massachusetts and local rules first.
Massachusetts Notice to Terminate Tenancy (No Cause) Rules
A Notice to Terminate Tenancy (also called a notice to vacate or non-renewal) ends a month-to-month tenancy without alleging fault. The landlord must give the state's required advance notice. Some states (and cities) require "just cause" and limit no-fault terminations.
Massachusetts requires a 30-day notice to terminate tenancy (no cause). For a tenancy at will (the MA equivalent of month-to-month), M.G.L. c.186 §12 requires written notice equal to the interval between rent-payment days OR 30 days, whichever is longer. For a standard month-to-month (rent paid monthly) this is 30 days, and the notice must expire at the end of a rental period. Estates at will may alternatively be ended by either party on three months' notice. Fixed-term leases simply expire at the end of the term (no termination notice unless the lease requires one). The notice is served under M.G.L. c.186 §§ 11, 12 (notice to quit); summary process under M.G.L. c.239.
How to Serve a Notice to Terminate Tenancy (No Cause) in Massachusetts
A notice to quit may be served by a constable or sheriff (often by leaving it at the tenant's last and usual address) or sent by the landlord, including by first-class/certified mail; many landlords use in-hand or constable service to ensure proof. After the notice period, the landlord must serve the Summary Process Summons and Complaint per Uniform Summary Process Rule 2 / Mass. R. Civ. P. 4 (constable or sheriff; if not made in hand, a first-class mailing copy is also required), then file in District/Housing Court. A residential nonpayment notice to quit must be accompanied by the state's Notice to Quit Attestation Form. A defective notice or improper service can get an eviction dismissed.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days is a Massachusetts notice to terminate tenancy (no cause)?
Massachusetts requires a 30-day notice to terminate tenancy (no cause). For a tenancy at will (the MA equivalent of month-to-month), M.G.L. c.186 §12 requires written notice equal to the interval between rent-payment days OR 30 days, whichever is longer. For a standard month-to-month (rent paid monthly) this is 30 days, and the notice must expire at the end of a rental period. Estates at will may alternatively be ended by either party on three months' notice. Fixed-term leases simply expire at the end of the term (no termination notice unless the lease requires one).
What happens after I serve the notice?
If the tenant does not comply by the deadline, you can file an eviction case in Massachusetts court. Only a court order, enforced by a sheriff or constable, can remove the tenant.
Can I email or download the notice?
Yes — fill in the form above, then download the PDF or email a copy to yourself. Serve it on the tenant using a method Massachusetts allows.
Disclaimer
This Massachusetts notice to terminate tenancy (no cause) generator is a self-help tool for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Confirm Massachusetts and local requirements before serving.
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