General information, not legal advice. This template is a starting point. Laws differ by state and city, so have a licensed attorney review your final document before you use it.
Last reviewed
The short version
- A free Massachusetts edition of our lease termination letter template, as a PDF to print and a Word file to edit.
- Either side can end a month to month tenancy at will with written notice of one full rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer.
- A tenancy at will can be ended without a reason by written notice equal to the interval between rent payments or 30 days, whichever is longer.
- A service member can end a residential lease after entering active service, or after receiving permanent change of station or deployment orders, with written notice and a copy of the orders.
- Have a Massachusetts attorney review your final version before you use it.
A written notice that ends a tenancy, with one version for landlords and one for tenants, plus move-out and deposit details and a proof of delivery. This edition fills in the Massachusetts rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.
Massachusetts rules for this form
Month-to-month notice. Either side can end a month to month tenancy at will with written notice of one full rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer. (G.L. c.186, section 12)
Ending a tenancy without cause. A tenancy at will can be ended without a reason by written notice equal to the interval between rent payments or 30 days, whichever is longer. (G.L. c.186, section 12)
Military service. A service member can end a residential lease after entering active service, or after receiving permanent change of station or deployment orders, with written notice and a copy of the orders. (Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955))
Domestic violence survivors. A survivor of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking can end the lease with written notice within three months of the most recent incident and must move out within three months; rent stops 30 days or one rental period after moving out, whichever is later. (G.L. c.186, section 24)
Unlivable conditions. Serious Sanitary Code violations the landlord does not fix can justify rent withholding and may support ending the tenancy. (G.L. c.239 (rent withholding))
Landlord duty to re-rent. Courts generally expect a landlord to make reasonable efforts to re-rent when a tenant leaves early, which can reduce what the tenant owes. (Massachusetts case law)
Cities and counties in Massachusetts can add their own rules on top of these. Check local ordinances before you sign.
What is in the template
- Version A: landlord to tenant
- Proof of delivery
- Version B: tenant to landlord
Before you use it
- A termination letter ends a tenancy the normal way, such as at the end of a lease or with notice on a month-to-month tenancy.
- It is different from an eviction notice, which responds to unpaid rent or a lease violation.
- The notice period, delivery method and any required reason come from the lease and from state and local law.
- Keep a copy and proof of how and when you delivered it.
For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the lease termination letter.
Get the Massachusetts lease termination letter
Free, no sign up. Fill it in by hand or edit the Word file.
General template, not legal advice. Have a Massachusetts attorney review before use.
Verify current law
We last checked these Massachusetts rules on . Laws change and cities can add their own, so confirm the current text before you rely on it, and talk to a Massachusetts attorney about your situation.
Laws named on this page
- G.L. c.186, section 12
- Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955)
- G.L. c.186, section 24
- G.L. c.239 (rent withholding)
- Massachusetts case law
Official sources
Goes with this form
Using this template. Have a local attorney check it.
What does Massachusetts law say about month-to-month notice?
Either side can end a month to month tenancy at will with written notice of one full rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer. Source: G.L. c.186, section 12.
What does Massachusetts law say about ending a tenancy without cause?
A tenancy at will can be ended without a reason by written notice equal to the interval between rent payments or 30 days, whichever is longer. Source: G.L. c.186, section 12.
What does Massachusetts law say about military service?
A service member can end a residential lease after entering active service, or after receiving permanent change of station or deployment orders, with written notice and a copy of the orders. Source: Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (50 U.S.C. 3955).
What does Massachusetts law say about domestic violence survivors?
A survivor of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking can end the lease with written notice within three months of the most recent incident and must move out within three months; rent stops 30 days or one rental period after moving out, whichever is later. Source: G.L. c.186, section 24.
What does Massachusetts law say about unlivable conditions?
Serious Sanitary Code violations the landlord does not fix can justify rent withholding and may support ending the tenancy. Source: G.L. c.239 (rent withholding).