Massachusetts Notice to Pay Rent or Quit Template
What a Massachusetts notice to pay rent or quit must include under Massachusetts law, and a fill-in draft that follows those rules.
What Massachusetts law requires
A 14-day written notice to quit. Tenancy at will: the notice must contain this text word for word: "If you have not received a notice to quit for nonpayment of rent within the last twelve months, you have a right to prevent termination of your tenancy by paying or tendering to your landlord, your landlord's attorney or the person to whom you customarily pay your rent the full amount of rent due within ten days after your receipt of this notice." If it is missing, the tenant's time to cure extends to the date the answer is due; the notice is not otherwise invalid. Written lease: a 14-day notice ends the lease unless the tenant pays all rent due, with interest and costs, by the answer date. Delays in government payments trigger a continuance of at least 7 days.
Source: G.L. c. 186, §§ 11, 12
Fill-in draft
Replace every [bracketed] item. If your state or city requires specific wording, a specific form, or a translated version, that requirement controls over this draft. Courts dismiss eviction cases over defective notices — if anything is unclear, talk to a lawyer.
NOTICE TO PAY RENT OR QUIT
To: [tenant name(s)] and all other occupants
Premises: [street address, unit, city, state, ZIP]
You owe rent of $[amount] for [rental period(s)].
Under G.L. c. 186, §§ 11, 12, 31, you must pay the full amount within 14 days after this notice is delivered, or move out of the premises.
Pay to: [name], at [address / payment method], between [hours].
If you do not pay or move out by the deadline, the landlord may file an eviction case in court. Only a court can order you to leave.
Date: [date]
Landlord or agent: [name, address, phone]
Signature: ____________________
Proof of delivery: Delivered on [date] by [method required by Massachusetts law] by [name].
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General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.