Massachusetts Eviction Notice (Notice to Quit)

Notice Date: [[Notice Date]]

Landlord / Property Manager: [[Landlord Full Name or Company]]
Address for Notices: [[Landlord Notice Address, City, MA ZIP]]
Phone: [[Landlord Phone]] | Email: [[Landlord Email]]

Tenant(s): [[Tenant Full Name(s)]]
Premises: [[Rental Property Full Address, City, Massachusetts, ZIP Code]], -

IMPORTANT NOTICE TO TENANT(S): This is a legal document. It is a prerequisite to filing a Summary Process (eviction) action in Massachusetts court under M.G.L. c. 239. It does not itself remove you from the property. You have the right to contest this notice in court. Self-help evictions (changing locks, shutting off utilities, removing property) are illegal in Massachusetts.

This document provides the required written Notice to Quit. All variable information is shown as `[[Token Name]]` placeholders. Statutory notice periods and service requirements are stated fully.

Massachusetts Notice to Quit Requirements, M.G.L. c. 186 §§ 11, 12 and c. 239 § 1

Before a landlord may commence a Summary Process eviction action in Massachusetts, the landlord must first serve a written Notice to Quit (also called Notice to Vacate) that complies with the applicable statute.

The correct notice type and minimum period depend on the grounds:

Service Requirements for Eviction Actions: For the notice to support a later Summary Process filing, service must be made by a constable or sheriff, or by certified mail with return receipt requested (and often also by first-class mail or in-hand). Proper proof of service is required when filing the court action.

Landlord must use the correct notice type. Using the wrong period or form may invalidate the eviction proceeding., -

Part I, 14-Day Notice to Quit for Non-Payment of Rent (M.G.L. c. 186 § 11)

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
NOTICE TO QUIT, NON-PAYMENT OF RENT
14-DAY NOTICE

Date of Notice: [[Notice Date]]

TO: [[Tenant Full Name(s)]]
You are hereby notified that you are in default in the payment of rent for the premises at:

[[Rental Property Full Address, City, Massachusetts, ZIP Code]]

Amount of Rent Owed (through [[Date Through Which Rent Calculated]]): $[[Total Rent Owed Amount]] (does not include late fees unless permitted by lease and law)

You are required to pay the full amount of rent due or to vacate and deliver possession of the premises to the Landlord on or before the expiration of fourteen (14) days after service of this notice.

If you fail to pay the full amount of rent due or to vacate within the 14-day period, the Landlord may commence Summary Process proceedings in court to recover possession, unpaid rent, and other damages.

This notice is given pursuant to M.G.L. c. 186 § 11 and M.G.L. c. 239 § 1.

Landlord / Agent Signature:

_____________________________________________
[[Landlord or Authorized Agent Full Name]]
[[Title]]
Date: [[Notice Date]]

Proof of Service (to be completed by server):

Served on [[Date Served]] at [[Time]] by:

( ) In-hand delivery to tenant or person of suitable age at premises
( ) Leaving at last and usual place of abode with person of suitable age
( ) Certified mail, return receipt requested (copy also sent first class)
( ) By constable/sheriff: [[Constable Name and ID]]

Server Signature: ______________________________ Date: _______, -

Part II, 30-Day Notice to Quit for Lease Violation (Cure or Quit), M.G.L. c. 186 § 11

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
NOTICE TO QUIT, LEASE VIOLATION
30-DAY NOTICE (CURE OR QUIT)

Date of Notice: [[Notice Date]]

TO: [[Tenant Full Name(s)]]
Premises: [[Rental Property Full Address]]

Description of Lease Violation(s):

You have breached the following term(s) of your lease:

1. [[Describe the specific lease provision violated, e.g. "Keeping unauthorized pets in violation of Paragraph 10 of the Lease"]]

2. [[Additional violations if any, one per line with blank line between]]

You are required either to cure the violation(s) described above or to vacate and deliver possession of the premises within thirty (30) days after service of this notice.

If the violation is cured within the 30-day period, this notice shall be of no further effect. If the violation is not cured and you do not vacate, Landlord may commence Summary Process to recover possession.

This notice is given pursuant to M.G.L. c. 186 § 11.

Landlord / Agent:

_____________________________________________
[[Landlord Full Name]]
Date: [[Notice Date]]

Proof of Service section (same format as above, include in every notice type):

Served on [[Date]] by [[Method, Constable / Certified Mail + details]]., -

Part III, 30-Day Unconditional Notice to Quit (No Cure Right), M.G.L. c. 186 § 11

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
NOTICE TO QUIT, UNCONDITIONAL
30-DAY NOTICE (NO CURE)

Date of Notice: [[Notice Date]]

TO: [[Tenant Full Name(s)]]
Premises: [[Full Address]]

You are hereby notified to quit and deliver up possession of the premises described above on or before the expiration of thirty (30) days after service of this notice.

Grounds (non-curable or repeated violation): [[Describe the material breach or repeated violation, e.g. "Repeated noise disturbances after prior 30-day cure notices on [dates]; illegal activity on premises"]]

You have no right to cure this breach. If you remain after the notice period, Landlord will commence Summary Process proceedings.

Pursuant to M.G.L. c. 186 § 11.

Signature and Proof of Service blocks as above., -

Part IV, No-Fault / At-Will / End of Tenancy Notice (Minimum 30 Days or Full Rental Period), M.G.L. c. 186 § 12

COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
NOTICE TO QUIT, NO-FAULT / END OF TENANCY
[[30-Day / 60-Day / Full Rental Period]] NOTICE

Date of Notice: [[Notice Date]]

TO: [[Tenant Full Name(s)]]
Premises: [[Full Address]]

Tenancy Type: [[Month-to-Month / At-Will / Fixed Term Ending [[Lease End Date]]]]

You are hereby notified to quit and deliver up possession of the premises on or before [[Exact Vacate Date, calculated as full rental period after service, minimum 30 days]].

This notice is given because:

[[Select one: "The fixed-term lease is expiring and will not be renewed." / "Landlord is terminating the month-to-month tenancy." / "Other no-fault ground permitted by law: [[describe]]"]]

No cause or fault on your part is alleged. You are not required to vacate before the date stated. If you remain after the notice period expires, Landlord may file Summary Process.

Notice Period Applied: [[Number]] days (equal to the interval between rent payments, minimum 30 days per M.G.L. c. 186 § 12 and § 15B).

Landlord Signature and Service Proof (include blocks)., -

Part V, Additional Required Elements and Proof of Service

Itemized Amounts (for non-payment notices only): The notice for non-payment must state the exact amount of rent claimed. Late fees and other charges may not be included in the "rent" demanded unless the lease and Massachusetts law expressly permit their inclusion in the demand for possession.

Service Certification (Mandatory for Court Filing):

I, the undersigned, certify that on [[Date of Service]] I served a true copy of this Notice to Quit upon the above-named tenant(s) at the Premises or last known address by the method indicated:

• [ ] Constable / Deputy Sheriff: Badge/ID [[Number]], in-hand or abode service
• [ ] Certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid (and first-class mail)
• [ ] Other method authorized: [[Describe]]

Server / Constable Signature: ______________________________
Printed Name: [[Server Full Name]]
Date of Service: [[Date]]
Time: [[Time if applicable]]

Landlord Certification:

I certify that the facts stated in this notice are true and that this notice was prepared and served in good faith.

_____________________________________________
[[Landlord or Agent Name]]
Date, -

Part VI, Tenant Advisory (Not Part of Legal Notice)

Tenant Rights in Massachusetts:

• You may have defenses to eviction (retaliation, discrimination, improper notice, habitability issues, payment tendered, etc.).
• For non-payment, tender of the full rent claimed within the statutory window may reinstate the tenancy in certain cases.
• Legal aid and court resources are available. Contact your local housing court or legal services organization promptly.
• Moving out before the court date does not automatically resolve the case; a judgment may still be entered.

This is a template. It is not legal advice. The exact wording, calculations of notice periods, and service methods must comply with current Massachusetts law and court requirements at the time of service. Consult M.G.L. c. 186 and c. 239 and a licensed Massachusetts attorney or housing advocate.

Statutory References: M.G.L. c. 186 §§ 11, 12, 15B; M.G.L. c. 239 § 1 (as of 2026). Service by constable or certified mail is commonly required to support Summary Process complaints., -

Template, not professional legal advice. Verify current statutory notice periods, service rules, and any local housing court standing orders before use. Laws and forms can change. This sample uses the periods and requirements set forth in the task seed and standard Massachusetts practice.

Sources: M.G.L. c. 186 §11 & §12; M.G.L. c. 239 §1; Massachusetts Uniform Summary Process rules; standard Notice to Quit forms used in Massachusetts District and Housing Courts.