§ 1A Land demised for term of 100 years or more regarded as estate in fee simple
§ 3 Tenancy at sufferance; liability for rent
§ 4 Liability of tenant for rent for proportion of land in possession
§ 5 Action to recover rent; evidence
§ 6 Survival of action
§ 7 Remedies of landlords
§ 8 Recovery of rent accruing before determination of lease
§ 9 Recovery of rent paid in advance
§ 10 Rent as a necessary
§ 11 Determination of lease for nonpayment of rent
§ 11A Termination of lease for nonpayment of rent
§ 12 Notice to determine estate at will
§ 13 Recovery of possession after termination of tenancy at will
§ 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
§ 14 Wrongful acts of landlord; premises used for dwelling or residential purposes; utilities, services, quiet enjoyment; penalties; remedies; waiver
§ 15 Non-liability of landlord; provisions in lease or rental agreement
§ 15A Waiver of notices; lease or rental agreement provisions; validity
§ 15B Entrance of premises prior to termination of lease; payments; receipts; interest; records; security deposits
§ 15C Residential real estate, lease payments based on real estate tax increases
§ 15D Oral agreement to execute lease; delivery of lease copy; penalty; waiver
§ 15E Action against owner; injuries due to defects violating building code; defense; waiver
§ 15F Residential leases or rental agreements restricting litigation or landlord liability; ouster of tenant; remedies
§ 16 Leases or rental agreements restricting occupancy of children
§ 17 Occupancy constituting tenancy at will; termination
§ 17A Residential care and services; housing facility providers; eviction; hearing; jurisdiction
§ 18 Reprisal for reporting violations of law or for tenant’s union activity; damages and costs; notice of termination, presumption; waiver in leases or other rental agreements prohibited
§ 19 Notice to landlord of unsafe condition; tort actions for injuries resulting from uncorrected condition
§ 20 Attorneys’ fees and expenses; residential lease provisions; implied covenant; waiver
§ 21 Disclosure of insurance information by lessor; violations; waiver
§ 22 Definitions; submeter installation; testing; water use charges; public housing development exemption
§ 23 Definitions applicable to Secs. 23 to 29
§ 24 Termination of rental agreement or tenancy by victim of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking
§ 25 Refusal of rental agreement or assistance based on termination of rental agreement under Sec. 24 or request for change of lock under Sec. 26 prohibited
§ 26 Change of locks upon request of tenant, co-tenant or household member believed to be under imminent threat of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking
§ 27 Jurisdiction of courts to restrain violation of Secs. 23 to 26; applicability of other laws to requests to change locks
§ 28 Waivers of Secs. 23 to 27 void and unenforceable
§ 29 Owner immunity from liability
§ 30 Inspection of vacated property for presence of abandoned animals
§ 31 Notice to quit for nonpayment of rent
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Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 186 - Estates for Years and At Will

  • Answer: The formal written statement by a defendant responding to a civil complaint and setting forth the grounds for defense.
  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Bankruptcy: Refers to statutes and judicial proceedings involving persons or businesses that cannot pay their debts and seek the assistance of the court in getting a fresh start. Under the protection of the bankruptcy court, debtors may discharge their debts, perhaps by paying a portion of each debt. Bankruptcy judges preside over these proceedings.
  • Complaint: A written statement by the plaintiff stating the wrongs allegedly committed by the defendant.
  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Counterclaim: A claim that a defendant makes against a plaintiff.
  • Cross examine: Questioning of a witness by the attorney for the other side.
  • Damages: Money paid by defendants to successful plaintiffs in civil cases to compensate the plaintiffs for their injuries.
  • Deed: The legal instrument used to transfer title in real property from one person to another.
  • Defendant: In a civil suit, the person complained against; in a criminal case, the person accused of the crime.
  • Devise: To gift property by will.
  • Evidence: Information presented in testimony or in documents that is used to persuade the fact finder (judge or jury) to decide the case for one side or the other.
  • Executor: A male person named in a will to carry out the decedent
  • Fee simple: Absolute title to property with no limitations or restrictions regarding the person who may inherit it.
  • Foreclosure: A legal process in which property that is collateral or security for a loan may be sold to help repay the loan when the loan is in default. Source: OCC
  • Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
  • Lease: A contract transferring the use of property or occupancy of land, space, structures, or equipment in consideration of a payment (e.g., rent). Source: OCC
  • Liabilities: The aggregate of all debts and other legal obligations of a particular person or legal entity.
  • Litigation: A case, controversy, or lawsuit. Participants (plaintiffs and defendants) in lawsuits are called litigants.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Mortgagee: The person to whom property is mortgaged and who has loaned the money.
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Personal property: All property that is not real property.
  • Probation: A sentencing alternative to imprisonment in which the court releases convicted defendants under supervision as long as certain conditions are observed.
  • Real property: Land, and all immovable fixtures erected on, growing on, or affixed to the land.
  • Summons: Another word for subpoena used by the criminal justice system.
  • Tort: A civil wrong or breach of a duty to another person, as outlined by law. A very common tort is negligent operation of a motor vehicle that results in property damage and personal injury in an automobile accident.
  • Trial: A hearing that takes place when the defendant pleads "not guilty" and witnesses are required to come to court to give evidence.
  • Trustee: A person or institution holding and administering property in trust.
  • Writ: A formal written command, issued from the court, requiring the performance of a specific act.