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Mass. General Laws c.186

Estates for years and at will (Landlord-tenant law)

This page links to the current, accurate version of each section of G.L. c.186

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§ 1A Land demised for term of 100 years or more regarded as estate in fee simple 
§ 3 Tenancy at sufferance; liability for rent 
§ 4 Liability of tenant for rent for proportion of land in possession 
§ 5 Action to recover rent; evidence 
§ 6 Survival of action 
§ 7 Remedies of landlords 
§ 8 Recovery of rent accruing before determination of lease 
§ 9 Recovery of rent paid in advance 
§ 10 Rent as a necessary 
§ 11 Determination of lease for nonpayment of rent 
§ 11A Termination of lease for nonpayment of rent 
§ 12 Notice to determine estate at will 
§ 13 Recovery of possession after termination of tenancy at will 
§ 13A Tenants deemed to be at will upon foreclosure of residential real property; status of tenancy agreements where rental payment subsidized under state or federal law 
§ 14 Wrongful acts of landlord; premises used for dwelling or residential purposes; utilities, services, quiet enjoyment; penalties; remedies; waiver 
§ 15 Non-liability of landlord; provisions in lease or rental agreement 
§ 15A Waiver of notices; lease or rental agreement provisions; validity 
§ 15B Entrance of premises prior to termination of lease; payments; receipts; interest; records; security deposits 
§ 15C Residential real estate, lease payments based on real estate tax increases 
§ 15D Oral agreement to execute lease; delivery of lease copy; penalty; waiver 
§ 15E Action against owner; injuries due to defects violating building code; defense; waiver 
§ 15F Residential leases or rental agreements restricting litigation or landlord liability; ouster of tenant; remedies 
§ 16 Leases or rental agreements restricting occupancy of children 
§ 17 Occupancy constituting tenancy at will; termination 
§ 17A Residential care and services; housing facility providers; eviction; hearing; jurisdiction 
§ 18 Reprisal for reporting violations of law or for tenant's union activity; damages and costs; notice of termination, presumption; waiver in leases or other rental agreements prohibited 
§ 19 Notice to landlord of unsafe condition; tort actions for injuries resulting from uncorrected condition 
§ 20 Attorneys' fees and expenses; residential lease provisions; implied covenant; waiver 
§ 21 Disclosure of insurance information by lessor; violations; waiver 
§ 22 Definitions; submeter installation; testing; water use charges; public housing development exemption 
§ 23 Definitions applicable to Secs. 23 to 29 
§ 24 Termination of rental agreement or tenancy by victim of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking 
§ 25 Refusal of rental agreement or assistance based on termination of rental agreement under Sec. 24 or request for change of lock under Sec. 26 prohibited 
§ 26 Change of locks upon request of tenant, co-tenant or household member believed to be under imminent threat of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking 
§ 27 Jurisdiction of courts to restrain violation of Secs. 23 to 26; applicability of other laws to requests to change locks 
§ 28 Waivers of Secs. 23 to 27 void and unenforceable 
§ 29 Owner immunity from liability 
§ 30 When tenants leave a property, the owner or lessor should inspect it for abandoned animals 

Added by St.2018, c.219, § 17, effective November 7, 2018

§ 31 Landlords must include certain documents when giving a notice to quit to a tenant for nonpayment of rent 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, § 296, effective 30 days following enactment pursuant to subsection (c) of section 2 Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution

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