Title: Tenant's Right to Break a Rental Lease in Massachusetts | Nolo
Headings: Tenant's Right to Break a Rental Lease in Massachusetts
Tenant's Right to Break a Rental Lease in Massachusetts
Learn when and how tenants may legally break a lease in Massachusetts and how to limit liability for rent through the end of the lease term.
Tenant Rights and Responsibilities When Signing a Lease in Massachusetts
When Breaking a Lease Is Justified in Massachusetts
You Are Starting Active Military Duty
The Rental Unit Is Unsafe or Violates Massachusetts Health or Safety Codes
You Are a Victim of Domestic Violence
Your Landlord Harasses You or Violates Your Privacy Rights
Landlord's Duty to Find a New Tenant in Massachusetts
How to Minimize Your Financial Responsibility When Breaking a Lease
More Information on Tenant Rights to Break a Lease
More Information on Landlord-Tenant Law in Massachusetts

Content: Provide your landlord with as much notice as possible and write a sincere letter explaining why you need to leave early. Ideally, you can offer your landlord a qualified replacement tenant with good credit and references to sign a new lease. But keep in mind that if the landlord doesn't agree to let you off the hook, you may be liable for paying rent for the remainder of your lease. This could be a substantial amount of money if you leave several months before your lease ends. Your landlord will probably first use your security deposit to cover the amount you owe. But if your deposit is not sufficient, your landlord may sue you, probably in small claims court where the limit is $7,000 in Massachusetts. How to Minimize Your Financial Responsibility When Breaking a Lease
If you want to leave early, and you don't have legal justification to do so, there are better options than just moving out and hoping your landlord gets a new tenant quickly. There's a lot you can do to limit the amount of money you need to pay your landlord—and help ensure a good reference from the landlord when you're looking for your next place to live. You can help the situation a lot by providing as much notice as possible and writing a sincere letter to your landlord explaining why you need to leave early. Ideally you can offer your landlord a qualified replacement tenant, someone with good credit and excellent references, to sign a new lease with your landlord.