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Massachusetts Landlord-Tenant Laws 2026

Security deposit limits, notice requirements, eviction process, late fees, and more for Massachusetts landlords. All citations reference actual Massachusetts statutes.

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Disclaimer: This information is provided for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws change frequently. Always verify current statutes with your state legislature or consult a licensed attorney before making legal decisions.
Security DepositNotice PeriodEvictionLate FeeLease TerminationRent IncreaseHabitabilityLandlord EntryFair Housing
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Security Deposit Rules

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B
Security deposit limited to 1 month rent. Must be returned within 30 days. Interest required at 5% annually or actual bank rate. Must hold in separate interest-bearing account. Failure to comply allows tenant to recover 3x deposit.
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Notice Period Requirements

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 12
Tenancy at will requires 30 days notice or one full rental period, whichever is longer. Lease violation: 14 days notice to quit.
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Eviction Process

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 239, § 1
Nonpayment: 14-day notice to quit. Lease violation: 30-day notice. Summary process through housing court. Strict procedural requirements — defective notices invalidate eviction.
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Late Fee Rules

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B
Late fee cannot be charged until rent is 30 days late. Fee must be reasonable. Last month rent and deposit strictly regulated — cannot charge both first, last, deposit, and lock change fee.
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Lease Termination

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 12
Fixed-term ends per lease. Tenancy at will: 30 days or one rental period notice. Early termination for domestic violence, military deployment, or code violations.
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Rent Increase Rules

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 12
No statewide rent control (repealed 1994). Some local stabilization measures under discussion. Proper notice required for tenancy at will increases. 30 days minimum.
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Habitability Standards

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 111, § 127A
Strong implied warranty of habitability. State sanitary code defines minimum standards. Landlord must maintain structure, plumbing, heating, electrical, pest control. Tenant may withhold rent or repair and deduct.
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Landlord Entry Rules

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B
No specific statute on required notice period. Reasonable notice required. Entry at reasonable times for repairs, inspections. Emergency entry without notice.
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Fair Housing Protections

Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151B, § 4
Massachusetts fair housing law is among the most protective. Adds sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, age, ancestry, genetic information, veteran status, and source of income to federal protections.
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