Notice Requirement for No Lease Renting

[Malrunus]

I currently do not have any written contract or lease stating I live here, or even that I am paying rent. What is the notice I'm required to give my landlord for leaving? I like in MA.

Normally the time period you are giving payments. 30 days if you pay monthly, 7 if you pay weekly etc.

[Malrunus]

Is this true even if there is no contract? Absolutely nothing has been signed for me to live here.

You have some kind of agreement (even if oral) if you are living there?

Or perhaps you can argue it was agreed or implied that you can go at any time...

A rent without a lease/contract is considered, under law, a month to month rental. This usually carries the typical 30 day notice law. You are required to give 30 days notice or risk losing your security deposit and being sued in small claims court for the last month's rent.

[Malrunus]

What if this landlord also did not maintain the pool that was part of rent, and did not perform maintenance on required things (such as my screen, and the shower), and did not allow space for food, or ate all my food?

The landlord ate all your food? Please elaborate.

Is this truly a landlord situation or simply a buddy or family member who let you live with them?

[Malrunus]

If I leave food in the fridge, he simply eats it. It was agreed upon that this wouldn't happen, as its been a problem before. If I bring home a steak, he'll cook it and eat it, leaving no leftovers. Also visitors are not allowed to use "amenities" such as internet, shower, stove, etc. Even though all utilities are included in my rent.

It used to be a friend, whom later became my landlord, and slowly became less of a friend.

[sandyclaus]

Originally Posted by Malrunus It used to be a friend, whom later became my landlord, and slowly became less of a friend.

Now we get to the heart of the issue! This is a former friend-turned-landlord & you're looking to jump ship.

These turn out to be the WORST situations because the line between friendship & business get crossed all too easily. One tries to take advantage of the other and do something that wouldn't be allowed if it were simply a business arrangement, and when caught, plays the "friend" card.

That's what he did to you, and now you're trying to do it right back to him by bailing on the rental arrangement without any notice whatsoever. None of the things you mention would be grounds to up and leave a rental with no notice.

As mentioned before, a M2M rental is presumed when no written lease exists. 30 days notice is required for proper termination of your tenancy.

Once that friendship is gone, you can bet that your friend/LL is going to go by the book on this. Give no notice, and expect him to retain enough security deposit given to cover the remaining notice period, or sue you for it if no security deposit was given.

"Also visitors are not allowed to use "amenities" such as internet, shower, stove, etc. Even though all utilities are included in my rent"

That's why they can't shower there. Because the water is included in your rent. Allowing visitors to come and use the utilities that are paid for just you, runs up those utilities. When utilities are included, it is normal to not allow visitors to come and use them to run up the bill. They can come and visit, but they need to go home to shower, do laundry, etc.