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Free notice · Massachusetts · updated 2026

Massachusetts Landlord Notice of Entry Template

The notice Massachusetts requires before a landlord enters an occupied unit — Not specified… under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(a) — with the reason, the window and the delivery record filled in from the tenant's record.

Free forever · delivered and time-stamped · reviewed against Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 186 (Estates for Years and at Will)
Not specified…Notice requiredNot specified by statute; reasonable notice
No noticeEmergency entryAllowed
ListedPermitted reasonsInspect, repairs, show to buyers or tenants
StatuteMassachusetts referenceM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(a)

When does a Massachusetts landlord need to give notice?

Pick the situation. The period on each card is Massachusetts's minimum — your lease can require more, never less.

Not specified…
Repairs & inspectionsNot specified by statute; reasonable notice. State the reason and a window of a few hours, at a reasonable time of day.Sent from the tenant record
Not specified…
Showing the unitProspective tenants, buyers, appraisers or contractors — same notice as repairs; Massachusetts lists showings among the permitted reasons.Sent from the tenant record
No notice
EmergencyAllowed. Burst pipe, fire, gas, a threat to health or safety — enter, then tell the tenant what happened and why.Reference
Never
Tenant refuses entryA tenant cannot refuse a proper notice for a permitted reason; repeated refusal is a lease violation. Never enter by force — document and use the violation notice.Reference

What a Massachusetts notice of entry must contain

Tenant name(s) and the unit addressName each person on the lease; the notice binds all of them.
The date and a time windowAt least Not specified… ahead, as Massachusetts requires; a window of a few hours at a reasonable time of day.M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(a)
The reason for entryMassachusetts permits: Inspect, repairs, show to buyers or tenants. Name the one that applies.
Who will enterYou, your manager, a contractor, or a prospective tenant — the tenant is entitled to know.
How it was deliveredWritten notice: hand delivery, posting on the door, mail, or email/text if the lease allows electronic notices. Keep the date.auto-logged
Your name and a contactSo the tenant can ask to reschedule; a reasonable request to move the time is usually worth granting.

How it works

1 · Open the tenant's recordResidents → the tenant → Messages. Write the notice with the date, window and reason; the address and names are already on the record.
2 · Send itDelivered by email and in the tenant portal (and by text where the tenant has opted in), time-stamped.
3 · Keep the recordThe message thread is the proof of notice if entry is ever disputed; add a note after the visit.

Massachusetts entry notice FAQ

How much notice must a Massachusetts landlord give before entering?

Not specified by statute; reasonable notice (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(a)).

Can I enter without notice in an emergency?

Allowed. Tell the tenant afterwards what happened and what was done.

What reasons allow entry?

Inspect, repairs, show to buyers or tenants.

Can the tenant refuse?

Not a proper notice for a permitted reason. Repeated refusal is a lease violation; never enter by force — document it and use the lease-violation notice.

Does a text or email count as notice?

Only if the lease allows electronic notices. The in-app message is emailed and shown in the tenant portal, time-stamped; print it for hand delivery where paper is required.

Send a Massachusetts notice of entry in two minutes

Date, reason and delivery record on the tenant's file. Free.

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Notice periods are Massachusetts's statutory minimums as of 2026, reviewed against Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 186 (Estates for Years and at Will). General information for landlords, not legal advice; local ordinances can add requirements.