Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 08/06/2009 - 02:29
My landlord (Boston) has refused to provide me a copy of the lease ever since I moved in 3 yrs ago. Two wks ago he verbally agreed to renew the lease for another year and sent me a one-line email confirming that I can "stay for another year." (Still no lease.) He since hired a realtor who wants to enter/show the unit. I said he cannot enter the unit until I have a copy of the lease. He now says he is going to evict me and I will be responsible for his legal fees. Should I let him in? Can I stop the eviction by moving out? What should I do? - frustrated and scared.
Editor's Response
You were supposed to get a signed (by the landlord) copy of the lease within 30 days of signing it. Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter186, Section 15D,if you request a copy of your lease and the landlord refuses to deliver a signed copy, he or she may be fined up to $300.
Remember, you never have to move out until a court tells you to move out. Even if you are merely a tenant at will at this point, your landlord is flirting with an illegal retaliatory eviction (evicting you after you attempted to assert your rights to a copy of the lease), not a good thing for landlords. I would guess, if you ended up in court, that you will be OK. However, the relationship has deteriorated to such a point that you have to wonder if you really want to stay in the unit. If not, talk to the landlord and work out a plan where he can show the unit at certain times while you remain in the unit for X number of months, looking for a new place (get it in writing). If you do want to stay a while longer, make sure you have made all your demands to the landlord in writing (certified mail) and let the housing court decide how long you should stay. Good luck.