The basic idea with any lease is that the tenant remains in the rental property for the duration of the lease agreement, but we all know that that doesn’t always happen. Situations change, things happen, so there are some escape clauses written into a solid rental agreement, some of which are dictated by state statutes. In Massachusetts both the landlord and the tenant have certain rights to terminate a rental agreement.
Landlord can terminate if:
- Tenant or guests or invitees fail to comply with any term of the rental agreement.
- Tenant misrepresents any material fact on their rental application.
- Tenant or occupant uses the premises or any part thereof for the purposes of prostitution, assignation, lewdness, illegal gaming, or the illegal keeping or sale of alcoholic beverages, among other illegal activities. See M.G.L.A. 139 § 19.
Tenant can terminate if:
- Landlord fails to correct violations of the standards for human habitation within 14 days after receipt of notice from the proper authorities, per M.G.L.A. 111 § 127(L).
- Premises is damaged or destroyed by fire or casualty (other than by the wrongful or negligent acts of the tenant) to the extent that normal use and occupancy is substantially impaired.
- Tenant is a victim of domestic violence, per M.G.L.A. 186 § 24.
