Asking Subtenant to Leave After Breaking Verbal Agreement

[Galloway1750]

My question involves landlord-tenant law in the State of: Massachusetts
My roommates and I live in a university town in which subletting rooms is common during the summer and/or semesters. We found a subtenant for 8 months. Terms were verbally agreed upon (Jan- Aug), approved by landlords, but no written sublease was signed. The subtenant has now announced he/she was leaving early (and no attempt to find a replacement has been made). We searched on our own and have found a potential tenant. However, the tenant leaving refuses to move out any earlier than June 30, effectively paralyzing our ability to find a replacement (June-August is a standard time frame).

We sought out the the Mass Tenant/Landlord guide as well as the "How to be a good tenant without getting ripped off" guide, which intimates that tenants on a lease MAY have the right to legally evict a tenant not on the lease.

Do we have the legal standing to ask her to leave earlier?

Thanks so much.

[Mr. Knowitall]

Does the roommate admit that she originally contracted to stay until the end of August, but has changed her mind? Do you have anything to document that agreement, including email?

[Galloway1750]

Yes to both questions. An email with the length of time was sent to the landlords for their approval and there are emails to the tenant confirming the length of time and the approval of the landlords for the tenant to move in.