ANSWER
Boston College’s off-campus housing office says it does not resolve roommate disputes, does not screen roommates, and recommends putting tenant-landlord agreements in writing. Under Massachusetts law, a landlord can use a 14-day written notice to quit for nonpayment of rent under a written lease, but the exact effect on you still depends on the lease you signed.
YOUR NEXT DECISION
Use the answer to prepare your next conversation
- Read the lease and any roommate agreement.
- Check whether the landlord has issued a written 14-day notice.
- Contact the landlord in writing about the unpaid amount.
- Contact Boston College Off-Campus Student Living if you want university guidance.
HELP WITH YOUR NEXT STEP
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Discuss housing optionsWhat Boston College says
BC’s Off-Campus Student Living says it offers free services, is not a rental agency, does not screen roommates, and expressly disclaims responsibility for disputes between roommates or tenants. It also says apartments and roommate listings are not inspected or approved by BC.
- BC recommends that all agreements between tenant and landlord be put in writing.
- Roommate listings are not endorsements, and BC does not verify listing accuracy.
- If you need help with a BC policy question, the page directs questions to offcampus@bc.edu.
What Massachusetts law says about nonpayment
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 186, Section 11 says that if rent under a written lease is not paid, a landlord may give 14 days’ written notice to quit. The statute also says the tenant can still avoid termination if, by the time the answer is due in the landlord’s possession case, the tenant tenders all rent due plus interest and court costs.
- The controlling rule here is the state statute, not a roommate agreement by itself.
- The signed lease matters, because the practical result can change based on what you agreed to in writing.
- This statute addresses landlord-tenant enforcement; it does not make BC responsible for collecting a roommate’s share.
What this means day to day
If your roommate misses rent, BC’s off-campus office is not the enforcement channel. Your next move is to check the lease and any written roommate agreement, because Massachusetts eviction and payment consequences run through the lease and the landlord’s process, not through BC’s housing office.
- Confirm who is named on the lease and what each person promised in writing.
- Ask the landlord, in writing, what amount is owed and whether the account is considered late or in default.
- If you want BC guidance, use the off-campus office contact listed on its site.
Sources
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