Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Massachusetts

Generally speaking the landlord must give you either a 14 day notice to quit for non-payment of rent or a 30 day notice to quit for any reason, unless you have a lease in which case the lease governs.

There are many rules surrounding the security deposit and landlords often try to keep these without complying with the rules. You should contact a landlord/tenant attorney regarding this situation, you may have more than just the security deposit claim as well if your's isn't a legal apartment or if there are conditions that do not comply with the state sanitary code (ie: no stove, separate bathroom and kitchen sinks, generally maintained in a safe and livable condition.