Housing assistance and court resources for Ayer, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, and Winchendon District Courts

Summary process (eviction) resource information for towns and cities served by the following courts: Clinton District Court, Fitchburg District Court, Gardner District Court, Leominster District Court, Winchendon District Court, and Ayer District Court.

Important Information (as required under St. 2022, c. 42)

If you are a party to a residential summary process (eviction) case based only on the non-payment of rent, certain protections may apply to you under the law. (See St. 2020, c. 257, as amended by St. 2022, c. 42).  Specifically, a residential summary process (eviction) case may be continued (delayed) if:

1. the residential summary process (eviction) case is based only on non-payment of rent;
2. the non-payment of rent was due to a financial hardship related or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic; and
3. a tenant proves, to the satisfaction of the court, a pending application for short-term emergency rental assistance.  

In addition, if the three (3) requirements above are met, the court must issue a stay of execution on a judgment for possession (pause a move-out order after a judgment for the landlord).  The court must also not enter a judgment or issue an execution (a move-out order) before the emergency rental assistance application has been approved or denied. 

Additional Information about Resources

• For more information about assistance programs in your area, contact: 

RCAP Solutions
[phone]

Central Massachusetts Housing Alliance, Inc.
[phone] 

• MassLandlords Helpline: [phone]; MassLandlords website
• Information about legal help, housing mediation and agencies that can assist with applications for rental assistance for your area can be found using the Department of Housing and Community Development Resource Locator.
• Online District Court Eviction forms can be found at Court forms for eviction and in the clerk’s office.  
• Current court standing orders, information on court forms, and data on evictions in the Trial Court can be found at COVID-19 eviction information. 

Court Service Centers

Court Service Centers help people navigate the court system. Centers are available to all court users without lawyers, and there are no income or immigration status requirements. Court Service Center staff can provide legal information, such as how the court works and different options available to you. They cannot provide legal advice. As of February 28, 2022, Court Service Centers offer in-person and remote services.

Additional Resources

Housing assistance and court resources for Ayer, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Leominster, and Winchendon District Courts

Date published:	March 13, 2024
Last updated:	March 13, 2024