Massachusetts Notice to Vacate Rules
Massachusetts rules on notice to vacate for renters and landlords, with the statute or official page behind each answer. Last verified: 2026-10-23.
Short answer: Either landlord or tenant may end a tenancy at will with written notice. When rent is paid monthly (or more often than every three months), the notice must equal the interval between rent days or 30 days, whichever is longer, and in practice must expire at the end of a rental period. G.L. c. 186, § 12
The rules in Massachusetts
| Ending a month-to-month lease | Either landlord or tenant may end a tenancy at will with written notice. When rent is paid monthly (or more often than every three months), the notice must equal the interval between rent days or 30 days, whichever is longer, and in practice must expire at the end of a rental period. The default is 3 months' notice when rent is paid less often. The same notice period applies to both parties. The court's landlord guidance says a month-to-month notice to quit must be at least 30 days and expire at the end of a rental period, with special care for February: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/find-out-how-to-start-the-eviction-process. The AG guide says rent changes in a tenancy at will need the same notice. A notice may include an offer of a new tenancy on different terms without becoming invalid. Source: G.L. c. 186, § 12 |
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- Notice Deadline Calculator — Enter the date a notice was delivered and see the date it runs out under your state's law.
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Related questions
- How much notice does a landlord have to give to end a lease or not renew?
- What are my rights without a written lease?
- Can a landlord evict you for no reason?
Massachusetts vs. neighboring states
| State | Ending a month-to-month lease |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts | Either landlord or tenant may end a tenancy at will with written notice. When rent is paid monthly (or more often than every three months), the notice must equal the interval between rent days or 30 days, whichever is longer, and in practice must expire at the end of a rental period. The default is 3 months' notice when rent is paid less often. The same notice period applies to both parties. G.L. c. 186, § 12 |
| Connecticut | Landlord: Notice to Quit for lapse of time served at least 3 days before the quit date (quit date should coincide with the end of a rental period). Tenant: no statutory notice period found. Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 47a-3b, 47a-23 |
| New Hampshire | Landlord: 30 days' written eviction notice (restricted property requires a statutory good-cause reason; non-restricted property can be terminated without cause). Tenant: 30 days' notice; if the date doesn't fall on a rent due date, tenant owes rent through the next rent due date unless the lease says otherwise. RSA 540:2, I-II; RSA 540:3, II; RSA 540:11, II |
| New York | Landlord: written notice based on length of occupancy - 30 days (under 1 year), 60 days (1-2 years), 90 days (2+ years); same notice is required for a rent increase of 5% or more. Tenant: at least one month's notice before the end of the monthly term (outside NYC). N.Y. RPL § 226-c; § 232-a (NYC); § 232-b (outside NYC) |
| Rhode Island | Month-to-month: at least 30 days' written notice by either landlord or tenant. Week-to-week: at least 10 days. Year-to-year: at least 3 months before the end of the year. R.I. Gen. Laws § 34-18-37 |
| Vermont | Landlord no-cause, no written lease, monthly rent: at least 60 days if the tenant has lived there two years or less, 90 days if more than two years (weekly rent: 21 days). Written lease ending: 30 days before end of term (tenancy of two years or less) or 60 days (more than two years). Building under contract for sale (no written lease): 30 days. Shared occupancy in owner's residence: 15 days (monthly) or 7 days (weekly). Tenant: unless a written rental agreement or other law says otherwise, a tenant may end the tenancy by actual notice to the landlord at least one rental payment period before the termination date in the notice (for monthly rent, one full month). 9 V.S.A. 4467(c)-(e), (h); 4456(d) |
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Massachusetts Notice to Vacate Rules FAQ
How much notice is needed to end a month-to-month lease in Massachusetts?
Either landlord or tenant may end a tenancy at will with written notice. When rent is paid monthly (or more often than every three months), the notice must equal the interval between rent days or 30 days, whichever is longer, and in practice must expire at the end of a rental period. The default is 3 months' notice when rent is paid less often. The same notice period applies to both parties. (G.L. c. 186, § 12)
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.