Best Way to Not Renew a Lease with Least Drama?

[Midge C.]

I have a tenant whose lease I don't want to renew. He's not the worst possible - he pays his rent and doesn't live like a pig. But he is difficult, demanding, demeaning and causes me a lot of stress.  

This is a very nice rental. Not super-fancy, but well above average, and I maintain it very well, always doing a little something to improve it.  His complaints are endless. For example, when he moved in he said he didn't like the fridge because it was older. I told him that I wasn't going to replace it;  it was in good condition and efficient. A few weeks later, he claimed it wasn't keeping food cold. I didn't yet know that most of his complaints were invented- and I was away and couldn't check it out -so I bought him a new (nice, mid-range, stainless) fridge. A few months later, he complained that the freezer was dripping. I went over with my handy person, who determined it was because he had so much food piled up that the vents were totally blocked. 

When i informed him of this, I received a barrage of letters about how he shouldn't have to rearrange his food, and I'd bought him a crappy fridge etc. That's the tip of iceberg. He complains constantly about everything. Recently I had a plumber come because he complained the toilet was making a strange sound. I was with the plumber the whole time. He later claimed that his back door was no longer locked and that the plumber must have unlocked it. (Impossible. Aside from the fact that the plumber is totally trustworthy, I was standing between the bathroom and the back door the whole time.) Ever since then, he won't let me come and do needed maintenance or repairs (e.g. changing smoke alarm batteries) unless he or his wife are home. I have a regular lawn and snow service but I constantly get emails from him that the grass is too long or the snow plow came too late at night, etc.  Then he is condescending and tells me in an  email "I'm just trying to help you be a better business person."  I could go on and on, but I won't, as this is already long.The other tenants (two other units) are lovely and I have no problem with them.  

I live in MA. My main question is this: His lease is coming due and I don't want to renew it. From a legal point of view, I don't think I need to give a reason. Is that correct? But from a conflict-avoidance point of view, what's the best way to handle it in terms of a reason? I am not going to pretend I'm having a relative move in, because I don't want to lie - and anyway there's a complication in that his wife is friends with one of the other tenants and will know it's not true.  I could say that I want to do renovations, which is true. 

I plan to give him three months notice (instead of the two required by the lease). Does anyone have other advice or cautions about how to handle this with as little conflict or legal risk possible? 

Thanks very much. 

[Curtis Bidwell]

@Midge C. If you are only required 2 months notice, then give him the required notice of non-renewal.  You don’t owe him any more and it will only create an additional month of conflict to give him extra time.  I would not offer any reason.  The lease has expired and you are not renewing.  End of story.  It’s not an eviction, it’s a termination of your business relationship. If he chose  to leave he would give proper notice and you have the same right.

Keep it professional. If he asks directly simply say, “Thank you for your business but we are going a new direction after your lease expires.”   Your plans for the unit are of no concern to him.

In our state we give 20 days notice to terminate (if month to month) ... and they almost always figure out where to move to!