reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land › Section 116 - Mailing of Notices After Registration

Section 116. All notices required by or given under this chapter by the recorder or any assistant recorder, after original registration, shall be mailed to the person to be notified at the residence and post office address stated in the certificate of title, or in any registered instrument under which he claims an interest, in the office of the recorder or assistant recorder, relating to the parcel of land in question.
All notices and citations directed by special order of the court under this chapter, after original registration, may be served in the manner above stated, and the certificate of the recorder shall be conclusive proof of such service; but the court may in any case order different or further service, by publication or otherwise.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185 - The Land Court and Registration of Title to Land › Section 118 - Fraudulent Conveyance; Imprisonment Term

Section 118. Whoever, with intent to defraud, sells and conveys registered land, knowing that an undischarged attachment or any other encumbrance exists thereon, without informing the grantee of such attachment or other encumbrance before the consideration is paid, shall be punished by imprisonment in the state prison for not more than three years or in jail for not more than one year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 1 - Housing Court Department; Composition; Definitions

Section 1. The housing court department established pursuant to section 1 of chapter 211B shall include: (i) a western division consisting of the municipalities in Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire counties; (ii) a central division consisting of the municipalities in Worcester county and the municipalities of Ashland, Framingham, Holliston, Hopkinton, Hudson, Marlborough, Natick, Sherborn, Sudbury and Wayland; (iii) a northeastern division consisting of the municipalities in Essex county and the municipalities of Acton, Ashby, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Boxborough, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Dracut, Dunstable, Everett, Groton, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Malden, Maynard, Melrose, North Reading, Pepperell, Reading, Shirley, Stoneham, Stow, Tewksbury, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Waltham, Watertown, Westford, Weston, Wilmington, Winchester and Woburn and the jurisdiction known as Devens established in chapter 498 of the acts of 1993; (iv) a southeastern division consisting of the municipalities in Barnstable, Bristol and Nantucket counties and the county of Dukes County and the municipalities of Carver, Duxbury, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Marion, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Middleborough, Norwell, Pembroke, Plymouth, Plympton, Rochester, Rockland, Scituate and Wareham; (v) a metro south division consisting of the municipalities in Norfolk county, except Brookline, and the municipalities of Abington, Bridgewater, Brockton, East Bridgewater, West Bridgewater and Whitman; and (vi) an eastern division consisting of the municipalities in Suffolk county and the municipalities of Arlington, Belmont, Brookline, Cambridge, Medford, Newton and Somerville. Wherever the words ''housing court'' are used, or wherever in this chapter the word ''court'' is used in that context, they shall refer to a division of the housing court department; and the words ''judge of the housing court'' or the word ''judge'', in context, shall mean an associate justice of the trial court appointed to a division of the housing court department.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 2 - Superior and General Jurisdiction; Presumption; Processes

Section 2. The divisions of the housing court department shall have superior and general jurisdiction with reference to all cases and matters within their jurisdiction; and no order, decree, judgment, sentence, warrant, writ or process made, issued or pronounced by them need set out any adjudication or circumstances with greater particularity than would be required in other departments of superior and general jurisdiction, and the like presumption shall be made in favor of proceedings in the housing court department as would be made in favor of proceedings in other departments of superior and general jurisdiction. Writs, subpoenas, citations, orders, notices, executions and all other processes issued in the housing court department signed by the clerk, temporary clerk or an assistant clerk, and bear the teste of the first justice of the division and shall run throughout the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 4 - Sittings of Court

Section 4. The western division of the housing court department shall hold its sittings in the city of Springfield in Hampden county and at least 1 sitting each week in courthouse facilities in Berkshire, Franklin and Hampshire counties. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court may consider expedient or convenient.
The eastern division of the housing court department shall hold at least 1 sitting each week in Suffolk county and at least 1 sitting each week in Middlesex county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient.
The central division of the housing court department shall hold at least 1 sitting each week in the city of Worcester, at least 1 sitting each week in Middlesex county, at least 1 sitting each week in northern Worcester county and at least 1 sitting each week in southern Worcester county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient.
The northeastern division of the housing court department shall hold at least 2 sittings each week in Essex county and at least 2 sittings each week in Middlesex county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient.
The southeastern division of the housing court department shall hold at least 3 sittings each week in Bristol county, at least 1 sitting each week in Plymouth county and at least 1 sitting each week in Barnstable county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient.
The metro south division of the housing court department shall hold at least 1 sitting each week in Norfolk county and at least 1 sitting each week in Plymouth county. The court, with the consent of the chief justice of the trial court, shall also sit in any other courthouse facilities as the chief justice of the housing court department may consider expedient or convenient.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 5 - Time for Transaction of Business

Section 5. The divisions of the housing court department shall always be open and the business thereof, or of a justice thereof, may be transacted at any time; but such business shall not, except as provided in section six of chapter two hundred and twenty, be transacted on Saturday or Sunday or on a legal holiday unless it relates to an application which, in the opinion of the justice to whom it is made, is of pressing necessity; provided, however, that, if the convenience of the public so requires, the courts shall be open for the transaction of business on such Saturdays, not legal holidays, and during such hours thereof as the chief justice of the housing court department may determine.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 8 - Justices; Appointment; Disputes Between Justices and Clerks; Appeals; Removal

Section 8. There shall be 2 justices appointed for the western division, 2 justices appointed for the eastern division, 2 justices appointed for the central division, 2 justices appointed for the northeastern division, 2 justices appointed for the southeastern division, 2 justices appointed for the metro south division and 3 circuit justices who shall sit in any of the divisions as determined by the chief justice of the housing court department. The chief justice of the housing court department, subject to the approval of the chief justice of the trial court, shall designate one justice to be the first justice of each court; provided, however, that appropriate consideration shall be given to seniority, length of service at that particular court, and managerial ability. Said first justice shall be the administrative head of that particular court and shall have the power, authority and responsibility of a first justice as set forth in section 10A of chapter 211B; provided, however, that clerks shall have responsibility for the internal administration of his office, including the selection, appointment, and management of personnel, staff services and record keeping. A first justice or a clerk of the court may submit any dispute that arises between said first justice and said clerk concerning the management and administration of the office of the clerk, the duties, powers and obligations of the clerk, or a member of their staff, or the interpretation of the personnel standards provided for under section eight of chapter two hundred and eleven B, to the chief justice of the department. Any person aggrieved by a decision of a chief justice under this paragraph may appeal said decision to the chief justice of the trial court, who shall, within thirty days, hear and determine the matter. Each first justice so appointed shall serve as the first justice of that court for a five-year term and shall be eligible to be reappointed to serve additional five-year terms at that particular court. Any first justice may be removed from his position as first justice by the chief justice of the housing court department; provided, however, that any such removal is not for arbitrary or capricious reasons. Any first justice who is removed from his position as first justice by the chief justice of the housing court department may appeal the removal to the chief justice of the trial court.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 8a - Chief Justice Authority and Responsibility

Section 8A. The justice as provided under section 1 of chapter 211B as the chief justice for the housing court department, in addition to his judicial powers and duties shall, subject to the superintendence authority of the supreme judicial court as provided in section 3 of chapter 211, have the power, authority and responsibility of a chief justice as set forth in section 10 of chapter 211B.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 8b - Deputy Court Administrator

Section 8B. The deputy court administrator for the housing court department as provided under section 1 of chapter 211B shall, subject to the superintendence authority of the supreme judicial court provided in section 3 of chapter 211, have the power, authority, and responsibility of a deputy court administrator as set forth in section 10 of chapter 211B.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 9 - Clerks; Appointment; Disputes Between Justices and Clerks

Section 9. There shall be a clerk, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the council, for each of the housing courts. Said clerks shall hold office during good behavior, subject however, to retirement under the provisions of any general or special law relative to retirement systems. The clerk appointed for the western division shall reside in either Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden or Hampshire counties. Said clerks shall have responsibility for the internal administration of their respective offices, including the selection, appointment, and management of personnel, staff services and record keeping. The chief justice, a first justice or a clerk of the housing court may submit any dispute that arises between said chief justice or said first justice and said clerk of court, concerning the management and administration of the clerk's office, the duties, powers and obligations of the clerk-magistrate or a member of the clerk-magistrate's staff, or the interpretation of the personnel standards provided for under section eight of chapter two hundred and eleven B, to the chief justice of the trial court, who in consultation with the court administrator, shall within thirty days, hear and determine the matter. The decision of the chief justice of the trial court shall be binding on the parties.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 9a - Salaries of Clerks and Assistant Clerks; Practice of Law

Section 9A. The salaries of the clerks of the housing court department appointed under the provisions of section nine shall be 81.57 per cent of the salary of the chief justice of said department and shall be paid, subject to appropriation, by the commonwealth. The salaries of the first assistant clerks in said department shall be eighty-three and one-half percent of the salary of the clerks of said court and shall be paid, subject to appropriation, by the commonwealth. The salaries of assistant clerks in said department appointed under the provisions of section eleven shall be seventy-seven percent of said clerk's salary and shall be paid, subject to appropriation, by the commonwealth.
Said clerks and assistant clerks shall devote their entire time during business hours to their respective duties and shall not, directly or indirectly, engage in the practice of law.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 11 - Assistant Clerks

Section 11. The clerk of a division of the housing court department may appoint 1 or more assistant clerks, who shall be removable at his pleasure. The clerk shall be responsible for all official acts of the assistant clerks and all powers conferred by statute upon the clerk, unless otherwise stated, and in any event subject to limitation by the clerk or the administrative justice, may be exercised by an assistant clerk.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 12 - Oath of Office of Clerks

Section 12. The clerk, any temporary clerk and all assistant clerks shall be sworn; and in the case of any temporary clerk and of every assistant clerk, the oath of office shall be administered by the chief justice of the housing court department who shall, upon administering the same, forthwith make return of such act with the date thereof to the state secretary.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 13 - Bond of Clerks

Section 13. The clerk, any temporary clerk and every assistant clerk, before entering upon performance of his official duties, and thereafter, at intervals of not more than one year, so long as he continues to hold such office shall give to the commonwealth a bond, conditioned to perform faithfully his official duties, with a surety company, authorized to transact business in the commonwealth as surety, in a sum approved by the chief justice of the housing court department, but in no event less than five thousand dollars. Failure to give such bond shall be sufficient cause for his removal.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 14 - Powers and Duties of Clerks

Section 14. The clerk, temporary clerk and assistant clerks or one of them for each division shall attend all sessions of the housing court department and shall keep a record of all its proceedings. The clerk of each division shall have the care and custody of all the records, books and papers, whether in physical or electronic form, appertaining to, or filed or deposited in, his office. The clerk of each division shall make and issue writs and processes, shall make returns of the housing court department, tax bills of costs and receive fines, forfeitures, fees and costs accruing from the civil and criminal business of the housing court department including fees for blanks and copies. The clerk of each division shall have such other powers and duties as the first justice of the particular division may, subject to the approval of the chief justice of housing court department from time to time order.
The clerk and assistant clerks of each division of the housing court department may sign process issued by the housing court department and housing court department records, documents or other legal papers or copies thereof, whether in physical or electronic form, made or issued by such other clerk or an assistant clerk in conformity with law, except search warrants and process authorizing arrests or commitments, by imprinting thereon a facsimile or electronic rendering of the signature of the clerk or assistant clerk; and such signatures shall have the same validity as their written signatures.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 15 - Court Officers

Section 15. The first justice of a division may appoint such number of court officers for his division as the administrative justice of the housing court department may from time to time determine. Any such court officer may be removed for any cause considered by the first justice of the division to be sufficient. Any vacancy caused by removal or otherwise may be filled by the first justice of the division. The court officers shall attend the sessions in the divisions of the housing court department, shall preserve order and may serve warrants, mittimuses, precepts, orders and processes of a division of the housing court department. Each court officer shall give bond for the faithful performance of his duties in the sum of one thousand dollars payable to the commonwealth, with sufficient sureties approved by the administrative justice. Each court officer, while on duty in the housing court department, shall wear a uniform approved by the administrative justice which shall be furnished at the expense of the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 16 - Housing Specialists

Section 16. The first justice of a particular housing court may appoint, subject to appropriation and subject to the approval of the chief justice of the housing court department, such number of housing specialists as he may from time to time determine. Said first justice may designate one of them as chief housing specialist for the court. All housing specialists shall hold office at the pleasure of said chief justice, subject, however, to retirement under the provisions of any applicable general or special law relative to retirement systems. All housing specialists shall be knowledgeable in the maintenance, repair, and rehabilitation of dwelling units; the problems of landlord and tenant as they pertain to dwelling units; the types of funds and services available to assist landlords and tenants in the financing and resolution of such problems; the federal and state laws, rules and regulations pertaining to the maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of such units; and the financing and resolution of such problems. The housing specialists shall have such powers and perform such duties as said chief justice shall from time to time prescribe. Every housing specialist shall be sworn by the chief justice of the housing court, who shall, upon administering the oath, forthwith make return of such act with the date thereof to the state secretary.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 18 - Recording System; Procurement of Law Books, Stationery, Etc.

Section 18. At the trial of any issue of fact, the justice presiding at the trial shall provide for a proper recording system which shall record the proceedings. The cost of said recording system shall be paid by the commonwealth upon the certificate of the court administrator. Each clerk of the housing court department may procure law books and blank books, blanks, stationery and other incidentals required by the divisions of the housing court department as the court administrator may approve.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 19 - Commencement of Proceedings; Fees; Non-Willful Offense Deemed Non-Criminal

Section 19. Proceedings shall be commenced in the housing court department as follows: a criminal case by complaint in like manner as in the district court department, a civil action in accordance with the Massachusetts Rules of Civil Procedure; provided, however, that a summary process action and a small claims action shall be commenced and administered in accordance with rules promulgated with the approval of the supreme judicial court. Clerks of the housing court department shall charge a fee of $120 for the entry of an action, for the filing of a third-party complaint, and for the filing of a motion to intervene as plaintiff, which shall be paid by the party entering or filing the same; and no other fee shall be charged for taxing costs, for issuing any subpoena or execution or for issuing any order of notice or other mesne, interlocutory or final order, rule, decree of process authorized by law, except a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction for the issuance of which the clerk shall charge $90; provided, however, that no fee for the entry of an action or for the issuance of a temporary restraining order or preliminary injunction shall be charged to the commonwealth or political subdivision thereof.
Notwithstanding that a proceeding under this chapter is commenced by complaint, if it is found that the offense charged was not willful, intentional, reckless or repeated, the proceeding shall not be deemed criminal and no record of the case shall be entered in the probation records.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 20 - Transfer of Civil Actions

Section 20. Any civil action within the jurisdiction of the housing court department which is pending in another court department may be transferred to the housing court department by any party thereto.
Whenever cross actions between the same parties or two or more actions, including for the purposes hereof other department proceedings, arising out of or connected with the same housing accommodation are pending, one or more in the housing court department, the district court department, the probate and family court department, or in the superior court department, the chief justice of the housing court or the first justice upon motion of any party to any of such actions, may order that the action or actions pending in the district court department and in the probate and family court department and in the superior court department with all papers relating thereto, be transferred to the housing court department; and such action or actions shall thereafter proceed in the housing court department as though originally entered there.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 21 - Trial Without Jury; Exception; Report of Inspector as Prima Facie Evidence

Section 21. All cases in the housing court department, including motions and the like, whether interlocutory or final, shall be heard and determined by a justice of a division of the housing court department sitting without jury, except that in all cases where a jury trial is required by the constitution of the commonwealth or of the United States and the defendant has not waived his rights to a trial by jury, the cause shall be forthwith tried in a division of the housing court department before a jury selected in accordance with chapter two hundred and thirty-four. In the trial of any complaint or action in the housing court department, the report of any inspector serving in the housing inspection department of a city or the board of health of any city or town shall be prima facie evidence of the facts stated therein.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 22 - Entry of Judgment or Order

Section 22. Every judgment or order entered by a division of the housing court department shall bear as its date the day when actually entered by the clerk, and at the time of the entry he shall note such date upon the judgment or order and upon the docket, including the electronic docket.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 185c - Housing Court Department › Section 23 - Bond of Receiver

Section 23. The bond of any receiver appointed by a division of the housing court department shall be payable to the commonwealth and shall otherwise be in such form as the chief justice of the housing court department shall require. Such bond may be enforced in the name of the commonwealth by the treasurer of the commonwealth, or by any person interested therein and authorized by the chief justice of the housing court department, after notice to said treasurer, to take such action. The housing court department shall have exclusive original jurisdiction of actions on such bonds. Any sums recovered shall be paid over or administered as a justice of the housing court department directs.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 1a - Land Demised for Term of 100 Years or More Regarded as Estate in Fee Simple

Section 1A. If land is demised for the term of 100 years or more, the term shall, so long as 50 years thereof remain unexpired, be regarded as an estate in fee simple as to everything concerning the descent and devise thereof upon the decease of the owner, the sale thereof by personal representatives, guardians, conservators or trustees, the levy of execution thereon and the redemption thereof if mortgaged or taken on execution. Whoever holds as lessee or assignee under such a lease shall, so long as 50 years of the term remain unexpired, be regarded as a freeholder for all purposes.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 4 - Liability of Tenant for Rent for Proportion of Land in Possession

Section 4. A person in possession of land out of which rent is due shall be liable for the amount or proportion of rent due from the land in his possession although it is only a part of that originally demised.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 5 - Action to Recover Rent; Evidence

Section 5. Such rent may be recovered in contract, and the deed of demise or other written instrument, if any, showing the provisions of the lease, may be used in evidence by either party to prove the amount of rent due from the defendant.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 6 - Survival of Action

Section 6. Such action may be brought by or against executors and administrators for any arrears of rent accrued in the lifetime of the deceased parties, respectively, in the same manner as for debts due from or to the same parties in their lifetime on a personal contract.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 8 - Recovery of Rent Accruing Before Determination of Lease

Section 8. If land is held by lease of a person having an estate therein determinable on a life or on a contingency, and such estate determines before the end of a period for which rent is payable, or if an estate created by a written lease or an estate at will is determined before the end of such period by surrender, either express or by operation of law, by notice to quit for non-payment of rent, or by the death of any party, the landlord or his executor or administrator may recover in contract, a proportional part of such rent according to the portion of the last period for which such rent was accruing which had expired at such determination.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 9 - Recovery of Rent Paid in Advance

Section 9. If, upon the determination of a tenancy, in any manner mentioned in the preceding section, before the end of a period for which rent is payable, the rent therefor has been paid before such determination, a proportionate part thereof, according to the portion of such period then unexpired, may be recovered back in contract.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 11 - Determination of Lease for Nonpayment of Rent

Section 11. Upon the neglect or refusal to pay the rent due under a written lease, fourteen days' notice to quit, given in writing by the landlord to the tenant, shall be sufficient to determine the lease, unless the tenant, on or before the day the answer is due, in an action by the landlord to recover possession of the premises, pays or tenders to the landlord or to his attorney all rent then due, with interest and costs of suit. If the neglect or refusal to pay the rent due was caused by a failure or delay of the federal government, the commonwealth or any municipality, or any departments, agencies or authorities thereof, in the mailing or delivery of any subsistence or rental payment, check or voucher other than a salary payment to either the tenant or the landlord, the court in any such action shall continue the hearing not less than seven days in order to furnish notice of such action to the appropriate agency and shall, if all rent due with interest and costs of suit has been tendered to the landlord within such time, treat the tenancy as not having been terminated.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 11a - Termination of Lease for Nonpayment of Rent

Section 11A. Upon the neglect or refusal by the tenant to pay the rent due under a written lease of premises for other than dwelling purposes, the landlord shall be entitled to terminate the lease either (i) in accordance with the provisions of the lease or (ii) in the absence of such lease provisions, by at least fourteen days notice to quit, given in writing to the tenant. If a landlord terminates the lease by at least fourteen days notice pursuant to clause (ii) of the preceding sentence, the tenant shall be entitled to cure on or before the day the answer is due in any action by the landlord to recover possession of the premises, by paying or tendering to the landlord or to his attorney all rent then due, with interest and costs of such action. The rights to cure provided herein, shall apply only to termination pursuant to clause (ii) and shall not apply to termination in accordance with the provisions of the lease.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 12 - Notice to Determine Estate at Will

Section 12. Estates at will may be determined by either party by three months' notice in writing for that purpose given to the other party; and, if the rent reserved is payable at periods of less than three months, the time of such notice shall be sufficient if it is equal to the interval between the days of payment or thirty days, whichever is longer. Such written notice may include an offer to establish a new tenancy for the same premises on terms different from that of the tenancy being terminated and the validity of such written notice shall not be affected by the inclusion of such offer. In case of neglect or refusal to pay the rent due from a tenant at will, fourteen days' notice to quit, given in writing by the landlord to the tenant, shall be sufficient to determine the tenancy; provided, that the tenancy of a tenant who has not received a similar notice from the landlord within the twelve months next preceding the receipt of such notice shall not be determined if the tenant, within ten days after the receipt thereof, pays or tenders to the landlord, the landlord's attorney, or the person to whom the tenant customarily pays rent, the full amount of any rent due. Every notice to determine an estate at will for nonpayment of rent shall contain the following notification to the tenant: ''If you have not received a notice to quit for nonpayment of rent within the last twelve months, you have a right to prevent termination of your tenancy by paying or tendering to your landlord, your landlord's attorney or the person to whom you customarily pay your rent the full amount of rent due within ten days after your receipt of this notice.'' If any notice to determine an estate at will for nonpayment of rent shall fail to contain such notification, the time within which the tenant receiving the notice would be entitled to pay or tender rent pursuant to this section shall be extended to the day the answer is due in any action by the landlord to recover possession of the premises. Failure to include such notice shall not otherwise affect the validity of the said notice. If the neglect or refusal to pay the rent due was caused by a failure or delay of the federal government, the commonwealth or any municipality, or any departments, agencies or authorities thereof, in the mailing or delivery of any subsistence or rental payment, check or voucher other than a salary payment to either the tenant or the landlord, the court in any action for possession shall continue the hearing not less than seven days in order to furnish notice of such action to the appropriate agency and shall, if all rent due with interest and costs of suit has been tendered to the landlord within such time, treat the tenancy as not having been terminated.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 13 - Recovery of Possession After Termination of Tenancy at Will

Section 13. Whenever a tenancy at will of premises occupied for dwelling purposes, other than a room or rooms in a hotel, is terminated, without fault of the tenant, either by operation of law or by act of the landlord, except as provided in section twelve, no action to recover possession of the premises shall be brought, nor shall the tenant be dispossessed, until after the expiration of a period, equal to the interval between the days on which the rent reserved is payable or thirty days, whichever is longer, from the time when the tenant receives notice in writing of such termination; but such tenant shall be liable to pay rent for such time during the said period as he occupies or retains the premises, at the same rate as theretofore payable by him while a tenant at will; provided, that in the case of a rooming house, an action to recover possession of premises occupied for dwelling purposes may be brought seven days after written notice if the rent is payable on either a weekly or daily basis. A tenancy at will of property occupied for dwelling purposes shall not be terminated by operation of law by the conveyance, transfer or leasing of the premises by the owner or landlord thereof or by foreclosure.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 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

Section 13A. Upon a foreclosure of residential real property pursuant to chapter 244, a tenant, occupying a dwelling unit under an unexpired term for years or a lease for a definite term in effect at the time of the foreclosure by sale, shall be deemed a tenant at will. Foreclosure shall not affect the tenancy agreement of a tenant whose rental payment is subsidized under state or federal law and the foreclosing entity shall assume the lease and rental subsidy contract with the rental subsidy administrator.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 14 - Wrongful Acts of Landlord; Premises Used for Dwelling or Residential Purposes; Utilities, Services, Quiet Enjoyment; Penalties; Remedies; Waiver

Section 14. Any lessor or landlord of any building or part thereof occupied for dwelling purposes, other than a room or rooms in a hotel, but including a manufactured home or land therefor, who is required by law or by the express or implied terms of any contract or lease or tenancy at will to furnish water, hot water, heat, light, power, gas, elevator service, telephone service, janitor service or refrigeration service to any occupant of such building or part thereof, who willfully or intentionally fails to furnish such water, hot water, heat, light, power, gas, elevator service, telephone service, janitor service or refrigeration service at any time when the same is necessary to the proper or customary use of such building or part thereof, or any lessor or landlord who directly or indirectly interferes with the furnishing by another of such utilities or services, or who transfers the responsibility for payment for any utility services to the occupant without his knowledge or consent, or any lessor or landlord who directly or indirectly interferes with the quiet enjoyment of any residential premises by the occupant, or who attempts to regain possession of such premises by force without benefit of judicial process, shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five dollars nor more than three hundred dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than six months. Any person who commits any act in violation of this section shall also be liable for actual and consequential damages or three month's rent, whichever is greater, and the costs of the action, including a reasonable attorney's fee, all of which may be applied in setoff to or in recoupment against any claim for rent owed or owing. The superior and district courts shall have jurisdiction in equity to restrain violations of this section. The provisions of section eighteen of chapter one hundred and eighty-six and section two A of chapter two hundred and thirty-nine shall apply to any act taken as a reprisal against any person for reporting or proceeding against violations of this section. Any waiver of this provision in any lease or other rental agreement, except with respect to any restriction on the provision of a service specified in this section imposed by the United States or any agency thereof or the commonwealth or any agency or political subdivision thereof and not resulting from the acts or omissions of the landlord or lessor, and except for interruptions of any specified service during the time required to perform necessary repairs to apparatus necessary for the delivery of said service or interruptions resulting from natural causes beyond the control of the lessor or landlord, shall be void and unenforceable.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 15 - Non-Liability of Landlord; Provisions in Lease or Rental Agreement

Section 15. Any provision of a lease or other rental agreement relating to real property whereby a lessee or tenant enters into a covenant, agreement or contract, by the use of any words whatsoever, the effect of which is to indemnify the lessor or landlord or hold the lessor or landlord harmless, or preclude or exonerate the lessor or landlord from any or all liability to the lessee or tenant, or to any other person, for any injury, loss, damage or liability arising from any omission, fault, negligence or other misconduct of the lessor or landlord on or about the leased or rented premises or on or about any elevators, stairways, hallways or other appurtenance used in connection therewith, shall be deemed to be against public policy and void.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 15a - Waiver of Notices; Lease or Rental Agreement Provisions; Validity

Section 15A. Any provision of a lease or other rental agreement relating to residential real property whereby a lessee or tenant enters into a covenant, agreement or contract, by the use of any words whatsoever, the effect of which is to waive the notices required under section eleven or twelve, shall be deemed to be against public policy and void.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 15c - Residential Real Estate, Lease Payments Based on Real Estate Tax Increases

Section 15C. No lease relating to residential real estate shall contain a provision which obligates a lessee to make payments to the lessor on account of an increased real estate tax levied during the term of the lease, unless such provision expressly sets forth (1) that the lessee shall be obligated to pay only that proportion of such increased tax as the unit leased by him bears to the whole of the real estate so taxed, (2) the exact percentage of any such increase which the lessee shall pay, and (3) that if the lessor obtains an abatement of the real estate tax levied on the whole of the real estate of which the unit leased by the lessee is a part, a proportionate share of such abatement, less reasonable attorney's fees, if any, shall be refunded to said lessee. Any provision of a lease in violation of the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be against public policy and void.
If the exact percentage of any such increased tax contained in such a provision is found to exceed that proportion of such increased tax as the lessee's unit bears to the whole of the real estate so taxed, then the lessor shall return to the lessee that amount of the tax payment collected from the lessee which exceeded the lessee's proportionate share of the increased tax, plus interest calculated at the rate of five per cent per year from the date of collection.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 15d - Oral Agreement to Execute Lease; Delivery of Lease Copy; Penalty; Waiver

Section 15D. A lessor who has agreed orally to execute a lease and obtains the signature of the lessee shall, within thirty days thereafter, deliver a copy of said lease to the lessee, duly signed and executed by said lessor. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than three hundred dollars. Any waiver of this provision in any lease or other rental agreement shall be void and unenforceable.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 15e - Action Against Owner; Injuries Due to Defects Violating Building Code; Defense; Waiver

Section 15E. An owner of a building shall be precluded from raising as a defense in an action brought by a lessee, tenant or occupant of said building who has sustained an injury caused by a defect in a common area, that said defect existed at the time of the letting of the property, if said defect is at the time of the injury a violation of the building code of the city or town wherein the property is situated. Any waiver of this provision in any lease or other rental agreement shall be void and unenforceable.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part II - Real and Personal Property and Domestic Relations › Title I - Title to Real Property › Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and at Will › Section 15f - Residential Leases or Rental Agreements Restricting Litigation or Landlord Liability; Ouster of Tenant; Remedies

Section 15F. Any provision of a lease or other rental agreement relating to residential real property whereby the tenant agrees to waive his right to trial by jury in any subsequent litigation with the landlord, or agrees that no action or failure to act by the landlord shall be construed as a constructive eviction, shall be deemed to be against public policy and void.
If a tenant is removed from the premises or excluded therefrom by the landlord or his agent except pursuant to a valid court order, the tenant may recover possession or terminate the rental agreement and, in either case, recover three months' rent or three times the damages sustained by him, and the cost of suit, including reasonable attorney's fees.
Any agreement or understanding between a landlord and a tenant which purports to exempt the landlord from any liability imposed by this section shall be deemed to be against public policy and void.