Gloucester, Mass., Code of Ordinances ch. 27 (2026) § 27-2

(a) If a building submitted to the provisions of M.G.L. c. 183A, 156B, 157 and 157B or any provisions of the general laws governing the cooperative form of ownership has been used, in whole or in part, for residential purposes within one year prior to the recording of a master deed creating a condominium or the filing of the articles of organization creating a housing cooperative, the owner thereof shall give each tenant of all housing accommodations in such building or buildings notice of intent to convert the building to the condominium or cooperative form of ownership. Such notice shall state in clear and conspicuous language the following:
(1) That the owner has filed or intends to file a master deed at a registry of deeds whose location is stated in the notice or has filed or intends to file articles of organization with the secretary of the commonwealth;
(2) That any tenant residing, on the date the notice of intent is given, in the building converted or to be converted to the condominium or cooperative forms of ownership shall have a period of time which shall be stated in the notice, from the date of receipt of such notice, as authorized by this section, before the tenant shall be required to vacate the housing accommodation occupied on the date the notice is received;
(3) That any tenant residing on the date the notice of intent was given in the building or buildings to be converted shall have a period of time, which shall be stated in the notice, from the date of receipt of such notice, as authorized by this chapter, to purchase the unit occupied by the tenant on the date the notice is received on terms and conditions which are substantially the same as or more favorable than those which the owner extends to the public generally for the 90 days following the expiration of said tenant's right to purchase as may be required by subsection (b) of this section.
All notices required under this section shall be deemed to have been given when a written notice is delivered in person or mailed by certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, to the party to whom the notice is being given. Whenever an owner is required to give notice of intent provided for in this section, the period of notice shall not be less than the expiration of any written agreement between the owner and the tenant of the housing accommodation which governs the use and occupancy of said housing accommodation or one year from the date the tenant of such housing accommodation is given said notice of intent, whichever is greater; provided, however, that in the case of a housing accommodation occupied in whole or in part by a handicapped tenant or occupied by an elderly or low or moderate income tenant the period of notice shall not be less than two years from the date the tenant of such housing accommodation receives said notice of intent. No person shall bring any action seeking a condominium or cooperative eviction until the expiration of the periods of time for notice to tenants specified in this act. The burden of proving qualifications with respect to age, handicap and income shall rest with the tenant.
(b) Any owner of residential property who converts such property to the condominium or cooperative form of ownership shall give to any tenant who is entitled to receive notice pursuant to this section the right to purchase the housing accommodation occupied by such tenant at the time such notice is delivered on terms and conditions which are substantially the same as or more favorable than those which the owner extends to the public generally for the 90 days following the expiration of said tenant's right to purchase. Such tenant may exercise a right to purchase such housing accommodations by executing a purchase and sale agreement prior to the expiration of 90 days after the date of receiving a copy of the purchase and sale agreement properly executed by the person offering the housing accommodation for sale.
(c) The owner of residential property converted to the condominium or cooperative form of ownership shall pay to any tenant who is entitled to receive a notice pursuant to this section and who does not purchase the housing accommodation which he occupies or another housing accommodation in the same building or buildings relocation benefits for the actual, documented costs of moving, not to exceed $750.00 per housing accommodation; provided, that if such housing accommodation is occupied, in whole or in part, by a handicapped tenant or is occupied by an elderly or low or moderate income tenant, the maximum relocation benefit shall not exceed $1,000.00 per housing accommodation. Such relocation benefits shall be payable within ten days after the date on which the tenant vacates the housing accommodation occupied by him; provided, however, that no tenant shall be eligible for such relocation benefits unless all rent due and payable for said unit under the rental agreement or extension of such agreement, if any, has been paid by the tenant prior to the date on which the housing accommodation is vacated and only as long as the tenant voluntarily vacates the housing accommodation for which recovery of possession is sought on or before the expiration of the notice period.
(d) Any owner or residential property converted to the condominium or cooperative form of ownership shall assist elderly, handicapped and low or moderate income tenants who qualified as such as of the date of receipt of the notice authorized pursuant to this section locating, within the period of the notice to such tenants, comparable rental housing within the city which rents for a sum which is equal to or less than the sum which such tenant had been paying for the housing accommodation occupied at the time of receipt of the notice authorized by this section. The failure of the owner of such residential property to find such substitute housing accommodation shall extend the period of notice for up to an additional two years.
(e) Any owner of residential property converted to the condominium or cooperative form of ownership shall give to any tenant who is entitled to receive a notice pursuant to this section an extension of the rental agreement at the expiration thereof. Such extension, where required, shall be for such period or periods of one year or such fraction thereof as shall equal the period of notice to which such tenant is entitled pursuant to the provisions of this section. The provisions of such rental agreement may not otherwise be modified by the property owner, except with respect to the amount of annual rent, any increase in which shall not exceed an amount equal to the sum which would result by multiplying said rent by the percentage increase in the Consumer Price Index for all urban consumers as published by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, during the calendar year immediately preceding the date upon which such rental agreement is commenced, or ten percent, whichever is less; provided, however, nothing herein shall limit the right of a property owner to any amounts which may be due under a valid escalation clause.