Full question:
I am a tenant at will and will be giving my four weeks notice to my landlord as stated in the agreement. My question is do I have to pay the 4 weeks that I am still living there? I had to give a security deposit and 4 weeks rent when I moved in?
- Category: Landlord Tenant
- Subcategory: Lease Termination
- Date:
- State: Massachusetts
Answer:
As a tenant at will, you are required to pay rent for the four weeks during which you remain in the property after giving notice. This is because your obligation to pay rent continues until the end of the notice period, regardless of whether you have given notice to terminate the tenancy.
According to G.L.c. 186, § 15B, a landlord cannot enter the premises before the lease termination date except for specific reasons, and they cannot demand rent in advance beyond the current month. However, since you are still occupying the unit during the notice period, you are responsible for paying rent for that time.
Additionally, your security deposit can only be withheld for unpaid rent, damages, or other specific reasons as outlined in the law. Therefore, you should ensure that you fulfill your rent obligations during the notice period to avoid any issues with your security deposit.
This content is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Legal statutes mentioned reflect the law at the time the content was written and may no longer be current. Always verify the latest version of the law before relying on it.