United States · MA

Massachusetts landlord-tenant laws.

The key statutes you need to know as a Massachusetts landlord — deposit caps, late fees, entry notice, and required disclosures at a glance.

All regions

Security deposit

1 month's rent

Return: 30 days

Late fees

Cannot charge until rent is 30 days overdue

Entry notice

Reasonable notice

Termination notice

30 days or rental period (whichever is longer)

Rent control

Prohibited (ballot measure pending)

Required disclosures

Every Massachusetts residential lease must include these disclosures where applicable. Missing required disclosures can void clauses or trigger statutory penalties.

Lead-based paint
Fire insurance
Apartment condition

Notable Massachusetts quirk

Late fees only after 30 days — among the most tenant-friendly.

Eviction timelines in Massachusetts

See filing fees, timelines, and estimated total costs for Massachusetts.

View costs

Baked in

Massachusetts-compliant leases, automatically.

TenantFort loads the right lease template with Massachusetts deposit language, disclosures, and termination terms baked in. Screening, leases, and compliance — all in one place.

Other states

Alabama

1 month's rent

Alaska

2 months' rent (1 month if rent ≥ $2,000)

Arizona

1.5 months' rent

Arkansas

2 months' rent

California

1 month's rent (as of July 2024)

Colorado

No statutory cap

Connecticut

2 months' rent (1 month if tenant ≥ 62)

Delaware

1 month's rent (12-month+ leases)