Tenancy at will

Example

Jess moves into her cousin’s spare house in March 2026 and pays $900 a month, with nothing in writing. That is a tenancy at will. When the cousin decides to sell, he still has to give notice under state law. In Massachusetts, where tenancies at will are common, the notice must generally equal the time between rent payments or 30 days, whichever is longer, so here at least 30 days, and in practice to the end of a rental month.

In a lease it looks like…

Owner permits Occupant to live at the premises at a rent of $900 per month, with no fixed term. Either party may end this tenancy at will by written notice as required by state law.

By state

Several states treat any tenancy without a set term as periodic, usually month to month, which blurs the line; the notice to end one then follows the state’s rule for month-to-month tenancies.

Notice to vacate by state