Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Massachusetts
Can a landlord evict you if you are 30 days late paying one month's rent in the state of Massachusetts?
2 Answers from Attorneys
A landlord has a right to evict you if you fail to pay rent. Once a suit is filed if you pay the rent to stop the eviction proceedings, if you are late again and the Landlord begins eviction proceedings before you tender payment, the Landlord can complete his eviction.
Generally, the courts will allow a tenant to make payment so long as it is done before the end of the month in which it is due. So if you pay on the last day of the month, you are not likely to be evicted by the court. However, being chronically late is grounds for eviction.
Yes, a landlord may evict you if you are late on your rent. A tenant has the right to "cure" the non-payment and avoid foreclosure, with some important exceptions. If you believe that you have some potential defenses, or eviction would pose a real hardship to you, you should probably speak with an attorney about representation.