Can a domestic violence victim end a lease early in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, a tenant may end a rental agreement by giving the owner written notice that a household member is a victim of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking, made within 3 months of the most recent act or while a household member is reasonably in fear of imminent serious physical harm, and must move out within 3 months of the notice. The owner may ask for proof, which is satisfied by any one of: a copy of a valid protection order under chapter 209A or 258E; a record from a federal, state or local court or law enforcement of the act and the perpetrator’s name if known; or a written verification from a qualified third party to whom the act was reported, with a statement under penalty of perjury from any adult victim able to give one that the incident is true. If the tenant does not move out within 3 months, the notice is void. The tenant is discharged from liability for rent or use and occupancy "for 30 days or 1 full rental period after the quitting date, whichever last occurs", is entitled to a refund of prepaid rent for any period after that, and must receive the security deposit statement and any refund within 30 days after the tenancy ends. Other tenants on the agreement are not released, and belongings the tenant leaves behind are deemed abandoned unless the tenant states in writing who is responsible for them. The owner must keep the proof confidential. On request, the owner must within 2 business days make a good faith effort to change the locks or give permission to change them, may charge no more than the reasonable price customarily charged in that community, and may deny a key to a perpetrator who lives there when the request comes with a protective order or a court or law enforcement record. An owner may not refuse to rent to an applicant because the applicant ended a rental agreement or asked for a lock change under these sections. This is M.G.L. c. 186, §§ 24, 25, 26.

WhatMassachusetts
Ending the lease earlyWritten notice, then move out within 3 months

What the statute says

“A tenant or co-tenant may terminate a rental agreement or tenancy and quit the premises upon written notification to the owner that a member of the household is a victim of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking …”

Quoted word for word from the section’s text.

Source

M.G.L. c. 186, §§ 24, 25, 26

Read the statute in the General Laws of Massachusetts (Massachusetts Legislature): malegislature.gov.

Checked against the statute on November 15, 2026.

This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.

How Seayora uses this rule

Seayora keeps every lease’s term, rent and signers in one record and dates every change to it. This page states the state’s rule so a lease’s own early-termination and sublet clauses can be checked against it before the lease is signed.

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