Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.71 § 8.71.040
Required notice
Operative Text
8.71.040.1 Notice to Tenant/Former Homeowner. At the inception of a tenancy and 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 Cambridge 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 a written notice prepared by the City of Cambridge at least thirty days prior to commencing any summary process action against the tenant or former homeowner. Such notice shall be provided in-hand or by both certified mail and first-class mail. 8.71.040.2 Notice by the City. The City of Cambridge shall annually publicize the requirements of Chapter 8.71 on the City's website and through other digital City notifications directed at the community, such as daily update e-mails and social media. The City shall use reasonable efforts to mail notice of these requirements to every residential address in the City at least annually; this mailing may be a postcard that contains a QR code or other electronic link to the City's website or may be part of another City mailing that goes to residential addresses. Also, the City shall annually provide information about the requirements of Chapter 8.71 at a City sponsored community event/program that is organized to provide information about housing resources. The City may publicize and provide information at events/programs about the requirements of Chapter 8.71 more frequently.
Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.71 § 8.71.040 establishes two parallel notice obligations. First, landlords and foreclosing owners must deliver a City-prepared notice of basic housing rights and resources — including a list of tenant-assistance organizations with contact information — at the start of a tenancy and again whenever they serve a notice to quit, lease nonrenewal, or lease expiration; when the basis is nonrenewal or expiration, that City-prepared notice must be delivered at least thirty days before any summary process action is filed. Delivery must occur either in-hand or by both certified and first-class mail simultaneously. Second, the City of Cambridge itself is required to publicize these requirements annually through its website, digital notifications, a mailing to residential addresses, and at least one community housing event each year.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.71 § 8.71.040, compliant operators obtain the current City of Cambridge–prepared housing-rights notice form and attach it to every new tenancy agreement as well as to any notice to quit, lease nonrenewal notice, or lease-expiration notice they serve. When the ground for ending a tenancy is nonrenewal or expiration, operators generally ensure the City-prepared notice reaches the tenant at least thirty days before initiating any summary process action. Delivery is accomplished either by personal in-hand service or by sending the notice simultaneously via certified mail and first-class mail, and operators typically retain documentation of whichever method they use.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Cambridge Code of Ordinances ch. 8.71 § 8.71.040 gives tenants and former homeowners the right to receive a City-prepared notice listing housing-rights information and local assistance organizations at the beginning of a tenancy and again any time a landlord or foreclosing owner serves a notice to quit, nonrenewal, or lease expiration — with at least thirty days' advance notice required before a summary process action when the basis is nonrenewal or expiration. If you believe this notice was not provided as required, that omission may be relevant to any summary process proceeding, and tenant-rights organizations listed on the City of Cambridge's own housing-rights notice are one resource for understanding available options. You may also contact the City of Cambridge directly or consult a tenant-rights organization to learn more about how ch. 8.71 § 8.71.040 applies generally.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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