Massachusetts Updates Required Form to Accompany Residential Notices to Quit
Massachusetts landlords, property managers, attorneys, and housing professionals should be aware that the Form to Accompany Residential Notice to Quit has been updated.
The previous version of the form was dated April 1, 2023. A replacement version dated July 27, 2026 is now available. We recommend that clients discontinue using saved copies of the older form and begin using the current version when preparing applicable residential notices to quit.
Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 186, Section 31, a notice to quit for nonpayment of rent given by a landlord to a residential tenant must be accompanied by this form. The new form specifically states that requirement on its first page.
What Changed?
Although the new document has increased from 11 pages to 12 pages in length, the additional page is largely the result of improved formatting of the multilingual versions. There are, however, several substantive updates that make replacing the old form important.
Updated Statutory Language
The 2023 form stated that the requirement applied to a notice to quit for nonpayment issued pursuant to Section 11 or Section 12 of Chapter 186.
The July 2026 form now states more broadly that a notice to quit for nonpayment given by a landlord to a residential tenant pursuant to Chapter 186 must be accompanied by the form.
RAFT Information Has Changed
The rental-assistance section has received a significant update.
The older form identified the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) as the agency administering Residential Assistance for Families in Transition (RAFT) and stated that assistance of up to $10,000 per household was available.
The new form identifies the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities (HLC) and states that RAFT may provide up to $7,000 per household. It also directs applicants to the HLC Housing Help Hub.
Housing Assistance Resources Have Been Updated
The old form contained several DHCD-era and COVID-era resource links. The replacement provides updated information directing tenants to resources including 211, local Housing Consumer Education Centers, and current Massachusetts housing-assistance information.
Court Standing Orders Have Been Updated
The section identifying Trial Court standing orders affecting summary process proceedings has also changed.
Among other revisions, the new form references the continuation of Interim Housing Court Standing Order 1-23 effective June 1, 2026, the Fourth Amended District Court Standing Order 10-20, and Boston Municipal Court Standing Order 1-23.
These replace or update several of the standing-order references contained in the April 2023 form.
Federal Eviction Information Remains, With Updated Resources
The new form continues to advise tenants that certain properties may be subject to additional federal protections under the CARES Act, including circumstances in which at least 30 days’ written notice may be required before an eviction claim is filed. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau resource provided with that information has also been updated.
We Recommend Using the Newest Form
Because the July 27, 2026 version contains updated statutory wording, rental-assistance information, agency information, court standing orders, and resource information, South County Constable Office recommends using the newest version rather than relying on previously downloaded copies of the 2023 form.
This is particularly important for law offices, landlords, property managers, and others who maintain their own form libraries or templates. An older copy sitting in a forms folder can easily continue being used long after the official form has changed.
Fillable Version Available From SCCO
To make the updated form easier to use, South County Constable Office has converted the July 27, 2026 form into a fillable version that can be completed electronically and then printed.
The updated form is available on our Forms page:
South County Constable Office — Forms
We recommend replacing any locally saved copy of the April 1, 2023 form with the current July 27, 2026 version.
This information is provided for general informational purposes and is not legal advice. Parties should consult an attorney regarding the legal requirements applicable to a particular notice or tenancy.