Everything About Eviction Laws In Massachusetts
Like most states, vary depending on the county you're located. However, all counties still follow the same general eviction laws and processes. Similarly, eviction processes can differ depending on the lease agreement signed by the landlord and tenant.
Knowing your renter's rights and how to file a complaint against your landlord if you feel those rights are violated is crucial for receiving fair treatment. It might be the landlord's property, but you have certain legal rights that must be protected if you're paying to rent a space.
This post summarizes wrongful eviction processes, how to fight them, what grounds a landlord can use to evict you, and how DoNotPay can help.
What Is Wrongful Eviction?
Wrongful eviction processes arise when the landlord wrongfully evicts a renter/tenant. Laws generally prohibit landlords from making certain types of evictions, including retaliatory evictions and self-help evictions.
Retaliatory Evictions | A landlord can evict a tenant in retaliation. This may be because the tenant exercised his/her legal rights, like notifying the health agency of unsafe conditions in the rental space. Your landlord cannot evict you for exercising your legal rights. |
Self-Help Retaliations | A landlord may also retain the rental space without following the eviction process. The landlord can do this by harassing the tenant until he/she leaves. However, state eviction procedures are meant to protect tenants from self-help evictions by landlords even if the tenant fails to pay rent on time, has violated the lease agreement, or has damaged property. |
Reasons for Evicting a Tenant in Massachusetts
The General Laws of Massachusetts states all the . This also includes the proper procedure that your landlord can use to evict you. That said, simply threatening to evict you or withholding your security deposit are illegal grounds for removing you from your rented space.
This section discusses some common reasons why landlords evict tenants:
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Failing to Comply with Rent Deadlines
While many landlords offer a grace period for tenants to pay their rent even after the payment is due, some people simply go too far as not to pay for several months at a time. Some landlords may charge a fee for late rent payment, while others may give you a notice for violating your lease agreement.
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Violation of the Lease Agreement
Massachusetts eviction laws for lease violation clearly state that all terms in a rental agreement must be upheld by both the landlord and tenant. These terms are enforceable and protected by the courts. Therefore, a landlord may have the legal grounds to evict a tenant if the tenant violates the terms of the lease agreement.
Lease violations may include:
- Keeping pets in pet-free rentals
- Smoking in non-smoking areas
- Damaging the rental property
The landlord may evict you if the violations are not resolved or the tenant remains on the property.
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Conducting Illegal Activity
Some examples of illegal activities that may violate the terms of the lease agreement may include:
- Prostitution
- Homicide
- Possession of illegal firearms or weapons
- Involvement in creating, distributing, or consuming controlled substances
- Theft, violence, assault
Landlords should keep a close eye on their tenants to ensure illegal activities don't go unnoticed.
How to Break a Lease Agreement in Massachusetts with the Help of DoNotPay
Finding the perfect home that meets all your needs can be quite tedious and time-consuming. But getting out of a lease might be even more difficult because of the binding lease agreement/contract and other legal processes that might be involved.
DoNotPay offers you an easier way out by helping you quickly, easily, and successfully break your lease. And the best part is that you can do all this legally without worrying about losing your deposit. You never have to worry about the legal consequences of breaking your lease with the help of DoNotPay.
Simply follow these easy steps to break your lease in Massachusetts with the help of DoNotPay:
- Search for and open the Landlord Protection product on DoNotPay.
- Select which issue applies to you.
- Answer a simple set of questions so our chatbot can collect the necessary information to create your demand letter.
- Choose whether you want DoNotPay to send the demand letter to your landlord or roommate on your behalf. If you already tried sending a demand letter and it didn't work, we can help you start the small claims court process.
Why Use DoNotPay to Break Your Lease Agreement in Massachusetts
Here are the top three reasons why you should use the DoNotPay app to solve your lease problem and get your security deposit within the date agreed upon in the lease:
- It’s FAST: the DoNotPay app offers a quick service. The app will kickstart the process of getting you off of your lease immediately.
- It’s EASY: filling out the DoNotPay form is as easy as filling out an online survey.
- It’s SUCCESSFUL: you will find thousands of positive online reviews from satisfied clients who have used the service before.
What Else Can DoNotPay Do?
DoNotPay offers an array of services you can enjoy from using the app. Besides relying on the app to get you out of your lease successfully, you can also trust DoNotPay to help you solve the following problems:
- Landlord repairs responsibilities
- Standardized legal documents
- How to kick out a roommate
- Notarize any document
- Letter to landlord about repairs
- Can a landlord evict me without notice?
DoNotPay is the perfect online solution you can trust to help you with your eviction process quickly, easily, and successfully. You never have to worry about legal consequences again with the help of DoNotPay. Simply fill out the online form and let us do the rest.