Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Massachusetts

Re: No pets...

You should first look to your written lease agreement before your meeting with the landlord to see whether pets are permitted.

If pets are not permitted, then you are technically in breach of the lease agreement. Attorney Lee is correct that the only lawful course of action for the landlord is to commence an eviction action. Self-help on the part of the landlord is illegal.

If you are concerned about your rights as a tenant, please feel free to stop into my office. I am located in North Quincy.

Re: No pets...

If your tenancy agreement says "no pets," you have a difficulty, no doubt. The agent's oral statement that a cat would not violate the provision is not necessarily going to be a lot of help, as the agent will of course deny having said such a thing.

I'm not sure what the landlord's intent is from your writing. If she attempts anything more than a notice to quit for the alleged violation of the lease, she is entirely out of bounds. I would simply advise that you be pleasant and keep calm. If the landlady gets difficult or nasty, ask her to leave. She will have to seek to enforce the agreement in the courts; she cannot take any action without a court order.