Massachusetts landlord tenant law: the rules a landlord meets

Massachusetts security deposit law

Most you can take

1 month’s rentM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b)

Back to the tenant within

30 daysM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4)

Rent and late fees

Late fee

No statute caps itM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(c)

Grace period before a fee

30 daysM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(c)

Massachusetts rent increase laws and rent control

Notice before a rent increase

30 daysMass. Gen. Laws c. 186, § 12; c. 40P, § 4For a tenancy at will, rent changes take the same notice as a termination, one full rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer.

Rent control

Local rent control bannedMass. Gen. Laws c. 186, § 12; c. 40P, § 4

Entering the property: notice to the tenant

Notice before you enter

No statute sets thisNo statute sets this

Ending a tenancy and eviction notices

Ending a month-to-month tenancy

30 daysM.G.L. c. 186, § 12Written notice of at least one rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer, ending on a rent day.

Unpaid rent

14 daysMass. Gen. Laws c. 186, §§ 11, 12, 31“14-day notice to quit”Paying in full within the period stops itA tenant at will who has not had a similar notice in the past 12 months can stop it by paying within 10 days of receipt, or up to the answer date if the notice omits that right. A tenant under a lease can stop it by paying all rent due with interest and costs by the answer date, and the notice must come with the state's accompanying form.

Another breach of the lease

Could not be confirmedMass. Gen. Laws c. 186, § 12“notice to quit”The statute does not say whether the breach can be fixedNo statute sets a shorter notice for a breach. A tenancy at will ends on notice of one full rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer, and a lease's own terms govern termination for breach.

Lockouts and shutoffs

Banned: lockouts and utility shutoffsMass. Gen. Laws c. 186, § 14; c. 184, § 18

The Massachusetts eviction process, step by step

Disclosures a Massachusetts lease has to carry

• If a security deposit is taken, the landlord must give a signed statement of the unit's present condition within 10 days after the tenancy starts or the deposit is received, whichever is later. (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(2)(c))
• Within 30 days of receiving a security deposit, the landlord must give a receipt naming the bank, its location, the amount and the account number where the deposit is held. (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(3)(a))
• For housing built before 1978, the landlord must give the state Tenant Lead Law Notification and Tenant Certification form and any lead inspection, risk assessment or compliance letters. (M.G.L. c. 111, § 197A; 105 CMR 460.100)