14 days nonpayment notice.
Nonpayment requires a 14-day notice to quit. A tenant at will can usually be terminated without cause on the longer of 30 days or one rent period's notice.
What this means for you: For nonpayment, paying the full amount owed within the 14-day window (sometimes with court costs) can cure the case in many situations.
Your next step: Check the notice date and whether the cure-by-payment right applies. Massachusetts has strong tenant defenses at the summary-process hearing.
Source: Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §§ 11, 12. Reviewed 2026-06-16.
More Massachusetts rights: Massachusetts security deposit · Massachusetts repairs · Massachusetts entry notice · Massachusetts rent increase.
Eviction in nearby states: New Hampshire (7 days nonpayment notice) · Rhode Island (5 days nonpayment notice) · Connecticut (3 days nonpayment notice) · New York (14 days nonpayment notice) · Vermont (14 days nonpayment notice).
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and vary by locality; consult a licensed attorney or your local housing authority.
Updated July 2026