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RealtorInMA t1_izugi1a wrote

Yes he is your tenant. You have to serve him legal notice to quit with 30 days notice, after which you can begin eviction. It's not that complicated, honestly, but if you can afford it, I suggest hiring an attorney to handle the whole thing.

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[deleted] OP t1_izuiit4 wrote

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RealtorInMA t1_izulixe wrote

It's best to deliver legal notice to quit through official means. Look up a constable and have them deliver it. I'm not familiar with the legal term "lodger," but again, if you can afford it, working with an attorney will help you stay out of trouble. If you think he may become violent or retaliate, get yourself and your valuables out of the house.

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savory_thing t1_izuvcsw wrote

That’s not how the law works. Do you own the place? Are you a tenant yourself and if so who’s on the lease with you? You really should consult with a lawyer specializing in real estate law, Massachusetts is notorious for being unfriendly to landlords. You may be better off offering him some cash to vacate, it could take months and cost you a lot to formally evict him.

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[deleted] OP t1_izuwjtp wrote

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savory_thing t1_izuzu6k wrote

I wouldn’t be overly concerned with him suing you, if I were you I’d be concerned about him squatting in your place for however many months it takes to legally evict him. Presumably you’re done with him and your quality of life will be negatively impacted by having him present where you live. Not to mention how much physical damage he could potentially do to your property.

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[deleted] OP t1_izv0fvm wrote

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savory_thing t1_izv20mp wrote

I know. That’s why I was suggesting paying him to move out. It seems counterintuitive I know, and I hate that our laws put people like you in such horrible positions, but maybe if you helped him get into his own apartment by giving him some strings-attached cash you could save yourself the pain of the formal eviction process. Does he deserve to be evicted and have that on his record? Hell yes! Do you deserve the inconvenience and expense of making that happen? Hell no! Is it worth it to you to give him what is essentially a bribe to vacate? Only you can answer that. I still think it’s worth your time to at least have an initial consult with a lawyer. I have passed the mass real estate license exam and am a real estate investor, but I’m not a lawyer, and a lawyer specializing in real estate law would be far better positioned to give you advice than I or anyone else here.

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[deleted] OP t1_izv2wdr wrote

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savory_thing t1_izv45fn wrote

I’m not sure what other options may be open to you. I would say whatever route you choose to go down, having a lawyer to guide you through it would be the best help for you. I wouldn’t want to go through the eviction process myself without a lawyer’s advice, God forbid you miss crossing a t or dotting an i and it resets you back to square one. And it sounds like you’re dealing with someone who would take full advantage of any missteps you may make. I feel bad for you and wish I could come up with some kind of silver bullet that would resolve the situation for you.

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[deleted] OP t1_izv7qmn wrote

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savory_thing t1_izvapva wrote

He’s grown accustomed to living off from you and is in denial about that gravy train coming to an end. That’s my guess anyway. His motivation doesn’t really matter to you, except where it comes to motivating him to vacate.

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Moist_Doughnut_311 t1_izvfsra wrote

Sorry you are in this situation. Just my two cents...I wouldn't look at a cash for keys situation as a bribe, more like you paying for your own piece of mind.

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[deleted] OP t1_izvfzkd wrote

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Moist_Doughnut_311 t1_izvl77u wrote

Well if he doesn't respond to the Notice to Quit then you can file the eviction paperwork with the courts. After you serve the notice he might be more willing to discuss things like an adult. It may be better to wait until he gets the notice to work out some sort of agreement? This is where hiring a lawyer would be crucial.

Again sorry you're in this situation. If I was in your shoes I would be seeing red at this point. Don't stoop to his level though. If you do something like move his stuff it can really mess up the eviction process. I'd be more worried about a judge ruling against me than a civil suit.

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[deleted] OP t1_izvlq4m wrote

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Moist_Doughnut_311 t1_izvo5e9 wrote

No problem. Sometimes people really just suck and will take advantage of whatever they can.

Good luck seeking out a lawyer tomorrow and with getting him out. You'll have your home back soon!

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Gratefulrubin90 t1_izwv7az wrote

He won't sue you but you will have a red mark and probably be arrested.

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