Somerville, Mass., Ord. ch. 7 art. XI § 7-283
Required notices
Operative Text
(1) Inception of the tenancy : Whenever a landlord enters into a new tenancy with a tenant under written lease, written tenancy-at-will or oral tenancy-at-will, regardless of length, the landlord shall, on or before the fifth day of the tenancy, provide to the tenant a notice of basic tenancy rights and resources which shall also include citations where additional information about such rights and resources can be obtained on-line or in person. The notice shall be in a form approved by the office of housing stability and obtainable on its website. Such notice shall be provided in-hand or by certified mail, in addition to by email if one is available, in English or in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or Nepali, if the owner , or their agent, knows that this is the tenant's primary language. (2) When a landlord or foreclosing owner serves the tenant or former homeowners any notice to quit or notice of lease nonrenewal or expiration , such landlord or foreclosing owner shall, at the same time, also provide the tenant or former homeowner with a notice of basic housing rights and resources, including a list of organizations available to assist tenants and/or former homeowners with their contact information on a form or forms prepared by the City of Somerville’s Office of Housing Stability which shall be attached thereto. Where a landlord or foreclosing owner is exercising a right of lease nonrenewal or expiration, the owner shall give such written notice prepared by the Somerville Office of Housing Stability at least 30 days prior to commencing any summary process action against the tenant or former homeowner. Such notice shall be provided in-hand or by certified mail, in English or in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or Nepali, if the owner knows that this is the tenant's primary language.
Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-283 establishes two mandatory notice requirements for landlords. At the start of any new tenancy, a landlord must deliver a city-approved notice of basic tenancy rights and resources to the tenant within the first five days, using in-hand delivery or certified mail (plus email if available), and in the tenant's primary language if it is Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or Nepali. When a landlord or foreclosing owner issues a notice to quit, a notice of lease nonrenewal, or a notice of lease expiration, a separate city-prepared notice listing housing rights and assistance organizations must accompany it — and in nonrenewal or expiration situations, that notice must be delivered at least 30 days before any summary process (eviction) action is filed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-283 generally obtain the required notice forms from the Somerville Office of Housing Stability's website before a new tenancy begins, and deliver the inception-of-tenancy notice no later than the fifth day of the tenancy by in-hand delivery or certified mail. Compliant operators also send the notice by email when a tenant's email address is on file, and provide the notice in Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or Nepali whenever they are aware that is the tenant's primary language. When issuing any notice to quit, lease nonrenewal, or lease expiration, operators attach the city-prepared rights-and-resources notice simultaneously — and in nonrenewal or expiration scenarios, they ensure that notice goes out at least 30 days before initiating any summary process action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Somerville Code of Ordinances ch. 7, art. XI § 7-283, tenants are entitled to receive a city-approved notice of basic tenancy rights and resources within the first five days of a new tenancy, and to receive a separate housing-rights notice whenever a landlord or foreclosing owner serves a notice to quit, nonrenewal, or lease expiration. If a tenant's primary language is Spanish, Portuguese, Haitian Creole, or Nepali and the landlord is aware of this, the notice must be provided in that language. Tenants who believe these notice requirements were not followed may contact the Somerville Office of Housing Stability directly, reach out to a local tenant-rights organization, or explore whether the omission can be raised as part of any subsequent housing proceeding.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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