[Massachusetts Renter]

We are relocated here to Massachusetts from New Orleans. We signed a lease in December that had in writing that the house would be put on the real estate market in 6 months( would be May 2008. At the time of lease signing we asked for a copy of it and was told he would mail it to us after he made a copy but have yet to receive a copy 3 months later. Disaster Housing Assistance sent our landlord paperwork to be filled out by him to receive rent directly from them for us due in part to us being in Hurricane Katrina. At the beginning of the month we received a call from our landlord saying he "lost" his paprwork he needed to send out to DHA and was looking for rent from us. We notified DHA and they resent him the paperwork and as of a week ago he still had not sent it out back to them. At this time we received a phone call threatening to be evicted because he has yet to receive his rent payments from DHA as well as he has decided to put the house on market before the lease was up. Is he entitled to do either of these 2 things? Any info would be greatly appreciated. We do have children as well.

[ScottGem]

I'm assuming he was aware that your rent would be paid by DHA when he agreed to rent to you. In that case, he hasn't a leg to stand on. To evict you, he has to go through a court hearing. All you need do is show up at that hearing with proof that he was sent the paperwork and the judge will laugh him out of court.

As for selling the house, even if he does, you have a valid lease. The new buyer will need to honor that lease. But you NEED to get a copy of that lease immediately. I would check Mass law on the penalties for not providing a copy of the lease on a timely basis.