Cal. Civ. Code § 11
Determination of lease for nonpayment of rent
Operative Text
Section 11. Upon the neglect or refusal to pay the rent due under a written lease, fourteen days' notice to quit, given in writing by the landlord to the tenant, shall be sufficient to determine the lease, unless the tenant, on or before the day the answer is due, in an action by the landlord to recover possession of the premises, pays or tenders to the landlord or to his attorney all rent then due, with interest and costs of suit. If the neglect or refusal to pay the rent due was caused by a failure or delay of the federal government, the commonwealth or any municipality, or any departments, agencies or authorities thereof, in the mailing or delivery of any subsistence or rental payment, check or voucher other than a salary payment to either the tenant or the landlord, the court in any such action shall continue the hearing not less than seven days in order to furnish notice of such action to the appropriate agency and shall, if all rent due with interest and costs of suit has been tendered to the landlord within such time, treat the tenancy as not having been terminated.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186 § 11, when a tenant fails or refuses to pay rent owed under a written lease, a landlord may serve a written fourteen-day notice to quit, which can be enough to end the lease. However, the lease is not necessarily terminated if the tenant pays or tenders all overdue rent, plus interest and court costs, by the time an answer is due in a possession action. A special protection also applies when the nonpayment was caused by a delay or failure of a government agency—such as a housing authority or benefits office—in delivering a subsidy or rental payment: in that situation, the court must pause the proceedings for at least seven days to notify the relevant agency, and if full payment is tendered within that window, the tenancy is treated as though it was never terminated.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under written leases in Massachusetts should be aware that Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186 § 11 sets out a specific procedural path for addressing nonpayment of rent. A compliant operator generally ensures that any notice to quit is delivered in writing and allows the full fourteen-day period to run before initiating a court action to recover possession. Operators also account for the provision's government-subsidy delay exception, which can require a court-ordered continuance and may result in the tenancy being reinstated if the outstanding rent, interest, and costs are tendered within the extended period.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186 § 11 gives tenants an important opportunity to avoid losing their tenancy by paying or tendering all rent owed—along with interest and court costs—no later than the date an answer is due in a landlord's possession action. Tenants whose nonpayment resulted from a delay by a government agency in delivering a housing subsidy or rental voucher may have additional protection, as the court is required to pause the case and notify the agency before proceeding. Tenants facing a notice to quit or a court action may benefit from reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or a legal aid office to understand the options available under this provision.
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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