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Tenant Rights and Responsibilities
As Reported on the Massachusetts State Website
www.mass.gov Last updated (07/07/2007) This
publication provides general information about Massachusetts consumer issues
and procedures. It is not designed to address all questions in detail and
consumers are encouraged to seek further guidance by contacting the agency
directly. This content is not intended to provide legal advice, but
rather a brief overview of the rights and responsibilities of tenants
according to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Anyone seeking legal advice
is strongly encouraged to use the services of an attorney. The below
content of this site belongs to the Commonwealth and not Dakota Management
Services.
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Finding an apartment
Finder’s Fee
Only a licensed real estate broker or salesperson can charge you a fee for
the purpose of finding an apartment. The amount, due date, and the purpose
of the fee must be disclosed to you prior to any transaction. There in no
set amount to the fee, as it is a contractual arrangement between the
licensed broker or salesperson and you (M.G.L c. 112, § 87DDD-1/2).
Pre-payments
Before you move in, the landlord can only collect the first and last month’s
rent, one month’s security deposit, and the purchase and installation costs
for a lock and key (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B).
Rights Against Unlawful Discrimination
Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race,
religion, national origin, age, ancestry, military background or service,
sex, sexual preference, marital status, blindness, deafness, or the need of
a guide dog, except owner-occupied two family dwellings (M.G.L. c. 151B, §
4). No landlord can refuse to rent you an apartment because you receive a
rental subsidy, because the apartment contains lead, or, with some
exceptions, because you have children.
Before Agreeing to a Tenancy (or Signing a Lease)
Do not put money down unless you are sure you want the apartment. Although
you may be legally entitled to the return of your money up until the
landlord formally accepts you as a tenant, that money may be difficult to
recover.
Calculate the anticipated costs of utilities (i.e., heat, electricity) when
determining which apartments you can afford.
Know what is expected of you in terms of pre-payments or a finder’s fee.
Finding an apartment.
Check the apartment to ensure that it is in acceptable condi-tion. Put all
agreements for repairs in writing.
Evaluate the proposed tenancy agreement and the response record of a
non-resident superintendent to “after hours” emergencies.
Talk with perspective neighbors about the competency and reputation of the
landlord and/or management company.
Rental Agreements
According to state consumer protection regulations, a landlord must include
the following in a written rental agreement:
The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the owners and other persons
who are responsible for the care, main-tenance, and repair of the property;
The name, address, and telephone number of the person authorized to receive
notices of violations of law and to accept notice of a lawsuit on behalf of
the owner;
The amount of the security deposit and disclosure of the rights under the
Security Deposit Law.
If the landlord uses a lease that contains any provision that conflicts with
the Security Deposit Law and attempts to enforce that provision or attempts
to obtain from you or a prospective tenant a waiver of any provision of the
Security Deposit Law, the landlord cannot keep your security deposit for any
reason including making deductions for damages.
You may want to meet the landlord of a small owner occupied building before
you sign the agreement. This tends to foster a good and congenial
relationship from the start.
The landlord also must give you an executed copy of the rental agreement
within 30 days of your signing it (940 CMR 3.17 (3)). You and the landlord
may agree verbally to the terms of your tenancy. It is safer, however, to
get all terms in writing.
Types of tenancy
Your legal rights may vary depending on what type of tenancy you have.
A Tenant with a Lease is one who signs a lease to rent a particular
apartment for a specified period of time. Under this tenancy, the landlord
cannot increase your rent until the end of the lease, and cannot attempt to
evict you before the end of your lease, unless you violate the lease
agreement. You are legally obligated to pay your rent until the end of the
lease. However, if you need or choose to move out before the end of the
lease, in most circumstances the landlord has a duty to mitigate his/her
loss by looking for another tenant to replace you.
A Tenant at Will is one who occupies a rented apartment without a lease, but
pays rent periodically (typically monthly). The agreement for the Tenancy at
Will may be either written or verbal. Either the landlord or you may
terminate this arrangement at any time by giving written notice of 30 days
or one full rental period in advance, whichever is longer. No reason is
required to terminate a Tenancy at Will. If your landlord wants to raise
your rent, s/he must send you a proper legal notice terminating your
tenancy, and then make you an offer to remain in the apartment for the
increased rent.
If your tenancy is subsidized, you may have different rights and
responsibilities than those summarized in this information.
Paying the rent
As a tenant, you have a legal responsibility to pay your landlord for the
use of a place that is in decent condition. Massachusetts law also provides
you with rights that protect the payments you make to the landlord (M.G.L.
c. 186, § 15B).
Pre-payments
It is an unfair or deceptive practice for a landlord to demand that you
pre-pay rent in excess of that allowed by law. (See section on Finding an
Apartment.)
Late Payment Penalty
A landlord cannot charge interest or a penalty on late rent until 30 days
after the due date. However, the landlord can begin the eviction process
immediately, even if the rent is only one day overdue. The landlord also
cannot use a reverse penalty clause to encourage you to pay early. For
example, it is illegal for a landlord to reduce the rent by 10% if the rent
is paid within the first five days of the month.
Rent Increases
A rental increase may be any amount the landlord wishes to charge. Rent for
a Tenant with a Lease can be increased only when the lease term expires.
Tenants at Will may face a rent increase at any time, as long as notice is
received at least one full rental period, but not less than 30 days, before
it becomes effective.
Security deposits & last month’s rent
Last month’s rent is the pre-payment to the landlord for the last month of
tenancy. A security deposit is a deposit of money to the landlord to ensure
that rent will be paid and other responsibilities of the agreement will be
performed. Neither may be greater that the amount of the first month’s rent.
If the landlord later raises the rent, s/he can require you to increase the
amount of last’s month’s rent to equal the new rent. Neither the landlord
nor you can transfer one for the use of the other without the other party’s
consent.
Receipts: Upon receiving the last month’s rent and/or a security deposit,
the landlord must give you a receipt for each pre-payment. If the landlord
collects the last month’s rent, s/he must give you a statement indicating
that you are entitled to interest on this rent and that you should provide
the landlord with a forwarding address at the termination of tenancy where
interest can be sent.
Interest: The landlord must pay interest on both the security deposit and
the last month’s rent. The payment of interest on the security deposit and
last month’s rent has been required by law since January 1, 1972, and April
1, 1984, respectively.
Security Deposit: You are entitled to either 5% interest or whatever lesser
amount is received from the bank where the deposit has been held, if you
live in the apartment for at least one year. The law requires the landlord
to hold a security deposit in a separate, interest-bearing account in a
Massachusetts bank. Within 30 days of receiving your deposit, the landlord
must give you a receipt identifying the bank’s name and address, the account
number, and the amount of the deposit.
Last Month’s Rent: You are entitled to either 5% interest or whatever lesser
amount is received from the bank where your rent was held. If the last
month’s rent is not held in a bank account, the landlord must pay 5%
interest per year. You do not have to live in your apartment for one year to
be eligible for the interest.
Payment of Interest: Interest is payable to you each year on the anniversary
date of your tenancy. The landlord must send you a statement of the interest
owed, and must either include the interest or allow you to deduct the amount
from the next rental payment. If you do not receive the interest within 30
days of the anniversary, then you may deduct the interest from the next
month’s rent. Once you terminate your tenancy, any interest owed to you must
be paid within 30 days of termination.
Statement of Condition: If a landlord or agent takes a security deposit,
s/he must give you a signed, separate statement of the present condition of
your apartment including a comprehensive list of any existing damage. The
landlord/agent must provide you with this statement upon receipt of the
deposit or within 10 days after the tenancy begins, whichever is later. If
you do not agree with the contents of the statement, you must return a
corrected copy to the landlord within 15 days after you receive the list or
15 days after you move in, whichever is later. If you fail to return the
list and later sue to recover your security deposit, a court may view your
failure to do so as your agreement that the list is complete and correct. If
you submit a separate list of damages, the landlord must return it within 15
days of receipt with a clear written response of agreement or disagreement.
The signed statement and the original condition statement are the basis upon
which future deductions for damage will be made. If the landlord does not
send you a Statement of Condition, you should write your own and send a copy
to the landlord or agent and keep a copy for your records.
Damage Deduction for Security Deposits: The landlord must return your
security deposit or balance within 30 days after the termination of tenancy.
The landlord can only deduct for the following:
Any unpaid rent which has not been withheld validly or deducted in
accordance with the law;
Any unpaid increase in real estate taxes if you were obligated to pay it
under a valid tax escalator clause in your lease;
A reasonable amount necessary to repair any damage caused by you, any person
under your control, or any person on the premises with your consent. Pet
damage can also be deducted. You do not have to pay for reasonable wear and
tear associated with normal use.
If the premises are damaged, the landlord must provide you with a detailed
list of damages and their necessary repairs within 30 days after the tenancy
ends. The landlord or agent must swear to this list under the pains and
penalties of perjury. In addition, the landlord or agent must provide you
with written evidence indicating the actual or estimated cost of these
repairs, such as estimates, bills, invoices, or receipts.
Transfers of Pre-payments to New Landlords: Upon sale or transfer of the
building, the landlord must credit the last month’s rent and security
deposit with any accrued interest to the new landlord. The new landlord must
give written notice of the transfer within 45 days of receiving your money.
If the former landlord fails to transfer the pre-payments to the new
landlord, s/he is still liable, but the new landlord shall also be obligated
to you for the amount of the pre-payments. The new landlord can satisfy this
obligation by granting you free rent for a time equivalent to the payments
made.
You are entitled to the immediate return of your security deposit plus
accrued interest if the landlord:
Fails to make the security deposit records available for inspection
during office hours; or
Fails to deposit the security deposit into a separate, interest-bearing
account in a Massachusetts bank; or
Fails to provide you, within 30 days of receipt of the security deposit, a
receipt with the name and location of the bank and the amount and account
number of the deposit.
The landlord cannot keep any portion of your security deposit for any
reason, including making deductions for damages, or counterclaim for any
damage to the premises in a court action by you to recover a security
deposit if the landlord . . .
Uses a lease which contains provisions conflicting with the Security Deposit
Law and attempts to enforce these provisions or attempts to get you to sign
a waiver of rights; or
Fails to deposit the security deposit into a separate, interest-bearing
account in a Massachusetts bank; or
Fails to transfer the security deposit or last month’s rent to the new
landlord after the sale of the rental property; or
Makes deductions for damages and fails to furnish you with an itemized list
of damages within 30 days after termination of tenancy.
You may be entitled to three times the amount of the security deposit or the
remaining balance to which you are entitled after lawful deductions with
interest, plus court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees if the landlord .
. .
Fails to deposit the security deposit into a separate, interest-bearing
account in a Massachusetts bank; or
Fails to transfer the security deposit or last month’s rent to the new
landlord after the sale of the rental property; or
Fails to return the security deposit (or balance after lawful deductions)
with interest within 30 days after termination of tenancy.
If the landlord fails to pay you any interest to which you are lawfully
entitled (including interest on the security deposit and interest on the
last month’s rent) within 30 days after termination of the tenancy, you may
be entitled to three times the interest, plus court costs, and reasonable
attorney’s fees.
Tenants’ rights
Rights Against Unlawful Entry
Your landlord, or an agent for your landlord, may only enter your apartment
for the following reasons:
To inspect the premises;
To make repairs;
To show the apartment to a prospective tenant, purchaser, mortgagee or its
agents;
In accordance with a court order;
If the premises appear to be abandoned; or
To inspect the premises within the last 30 days of tenancy in order to
determine the amount of damage to be deducted from the security deposit.
The landlord should be reasonable and attempt to arrange a mutually
convenient time to visit the apartment. If the landlord insists on entering
your apartment in an unreasonable fashion, you may file for a temporary
restraining order at your local district court (M.G.L. c. 186, §§ 14 and
15B).
Rights Against Retaliation
Although the landlord of a Tenant at Will or under lease can terminate the
tenancy or raise the rent without reason, s/he cannot do so in response to
your exercising your legal rights. If the landlord tries to raise the rent,
terminate or otherwise change your tenancy within six months of when you
contact the Board of Health, join a tenants’ organization, or exercise other
legal rights, the landlord’s action will be considered retaliation against
you, unless the landlord can prove otherwise. The landlord will have the
burden to prove that your tenancy was changed for reasons other than your
having exercised your rights (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18).
Habitability Rights
You are entitled to a safe and habitable living environment throughout your
entire tenancy. The State Sanitary Code protects the health, safety and
well-being of tenants and the general public (105 CMR 410). The local Boards
of Health enforce the Code. (Note: In Boston, it is the Housing Inspection
Department.) Copies of the Code may be purchased from the State House
Bookstore, State House, Room 116, Boston, MA 02133, (617) 727-2834.
The following is a sampling of provisions outlined in the Code:
Water: The landlord must provide you with enough water, with adequate
pressure, to meet your ordinary needs. Under certain limited circumstances,
you can be charged for water costs so long as it is clearly noted in your
written rental agreement and there is a separate meter for your unit. The
landlord must also provide the facilities to heat the water at a temperature
between 110º F and 130º F, however your written tenancy agreement or lease
may require you to pay for and provide the fuel to heat the water.
Heat: The landlord must provide a heating system in good working order. The
landlord must pay for the heat, unless your lease requires you to pay for
it. From September 16 to June 14, every room must be heated to at least 68º
F between 7:00 AM and 11 PM, and at least 64º F at all other hours. During
the heating season, the maximum heat allowable in the apartment is 78º F.
Kitchens: The landlord must provide within the kitchen: a sink of sufficient
size and capacity for washing dishes and kitchen utensils, a stove and oven
in good repair (unless your written lease requires you to provide your own),
and space and proper facilities for the installation of a refrigerator. The
landlord does not have to provide a refrigerator. If a refrigerator is
provided, however, the landlord must keep it in working order.
Cockroaches and Rodents: The landlord must maintain the unit free from
rodents, cockroaches, and insect infestation, if there are two or more
apartments in the building.
Structural Elements: Every landlord must maintain the foundation, floors,
walls, doors, windows, ceilings, roof, staircases, porches, chimneys, and
other structural elements of the dwelling so that it excludes wind, rain,
and snow; is rodent-proof, weathertight, watertight, and free from chronic
dampness; in good repair, and in every way fit for its intended use.
Snow Removal: Every exit used or intended for use by occupants of more than
one dwelling unit or rooming unit shall be maintained free from obstruction.
Tenants’ remedies
Rent Withholding
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that when a landlord fails to
maintain a dwelling in habitable condition, a tenant may properly withhold a
portion of the rent from the date the landlord has notice of this breach of
warrant of habit-ability. Rent withholding can be a useful tool to force
repairs, but it is a serious step and should be dealt with carefully. You
may want to get legal advice before withholding your rent since the landlord
may try to evict you for non-payment of rent.
You may withhold a portion of your rent if:
You have appealed to your landlord in writing to make the necessary repairs
or
Your local Board of Health has inspected your apartment and found health
code violations and notified your landlord or
You are current in your rent up until the time your landlord learns of the
problem, you are not the cause of the problem, and the unsanitary conditions
do not require the apartment to be vacated to make repairs.
Deciding how much to withhold is based on each situation. You need only pay
the fair rent for your unit given its defective condition. Once the landlord
has repaired all defects, the tenant must pay all withheld rent (M.G.L. c.
239, § 8A).
Repair and Deduct
You may make emergency repairs in an apartment or common living area and
deduct up to four months future rent to pay for them, if three conditions
are met:
The local Board of Health or other code enforcement agency has certified
that the present conditions endanger your health or safety; and
The landlord receives written notice of the existing violations from the
inspecting agency; and
The landlord is given five days from the date of notice to begin repairs or
to contract for outside services and 14 days to substantially complete all
necessary repairs. (The inspecting agency or court may shorten this time
frame.)
Remember: If you contract to make repairs and then deduct the cost from the
rent, you must retain a receipt. Further, if the costs are deemed to be
unreasonable, you will only be able to deduct that portion which is
reasonable.
If you qualify under the requirements of “repair and deduct,” you may treat
your lease as void. You then have the right to move out if you choose not to
make repairs. However, you must pay the fair rental value for the period you
occupied the apartment, and you must vacate within a reasonable period of
time (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L).
Shutoff Rights
The landlord cannot cause the removal or shutoff of the utilities except for
a temporary period during repair or emergencies. In cases when a landlord’s
account is about to be shut off for non-payment, the utility company must
notify you 30 days before the scheduled termination. You also may be asked
to pay part of the overdue bill to the utility, and deduct that payment from
your rent. Contact the Department of Public Utilities at 1-800-392-6066 for
more information (M.G.L. c. 164, § 124A-I).
Eviction
A landlord cannot lock you out or throw you out of your apartment without a
judge’s order. If you are being evicted, Massachusetts law provides you with
some protections. You may wish to consult with an attorney.
Terminating and Reviving your Tenancy
Tenants with a Lease: Your landlord may attempt to evict you if you have not
been paying your rent, or if you or people under your control have caused
excessive damage to your apartment or you have violated the terms of your
lease. Your landlord must first send you a “Notice to Quit” your tenancy. If
the landlord is terminating your tenancy for non-payment of rent, s/he must
send you a “14-Day Notice to Quit” (M.G.L.c.186, §§ 11 and 12). Your lease
will specify the notice requirement for other terminations; it is typically
seven days.
If you are being evicted for non-payment of rent, you may avoid the eviction
if you pay all rent owed, plus interest, and the landlord’s cost of filing
an eviction case on or before the date your Answer is due.
Tenants at Will: Your landlord must send you a “14-Day Notice to Quit” if
terminating your tenancy for non-payment of rent (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). If
it is being terminated for any other reason, you must be given written
notice 30 days, or one full rental period in advance, whichever is longer.
If you are being evicted for non-payment of rent, you may avoid the eviction
by paying the rent due within 10 days of receiving this notice, as long as
this is the first notice you have received within the last 12 months. If
there is no statement of your right to revive the tenancy in the Notice, you
have until the date your Answer is due.
Landlords of tenants with rent subsidies must follow the eviction procedures
in their rent subsidy contract and lease agreement.
Summary Process and Complaint
After the notice period passed, the landlord must deliver to you a “Summary
Process and Complaint.” This officially informs you that the landlord is
taking legal action against you. It will state the date of the eviction
hearing and the date on which the Answer must be filed.
Answer
The Answer is a written response from you stating why you should not be
evicted. It also gives you the chance to make counterclaims against your
landlord, which may include health Sanitary Code violations, retaliation,
harassment, security deposit violations, or improper eviction procedure. The
Answer must be received by the court and the landlord the Monday before your
court date. Keep a copy for yourself.
Judgment and Appeal
If you lose the case, you may appeal the decision and request a new hearing.
If you appeal, you must file a Notice to Appeal within 10 days after the
date the judgment is entered. An appeal bond is usually required, but may be
waived if you cannot afford it; and you have a non-frivolous defense.
Execution
The execution is the judge’s eviction order; the landlord cannot physically
evict you without this paper. If a physical eviction is allowed, the court
will give the landlord the execution 10 days after the judgment is entered.
You must receive written notice of the date and time the physical eviction
will take place at least 48 hours in advance. On the date set in the 48-hour
notice, you must leave apartment.
The landlord may use the execution anytime within a three-month period.
However, if you were evicted for non-payment of rent, and the landlord
accepts payment of the entire amount won in the summary process action and
your current rent, then the landlord cannot use the execution at any point
and must return it to the court (M.G.L. c. 239, § 3).
The Stay of Execution
If the eviction was not your fault or you cannot in good faith find a place
to live, you may be able to convince a judge to grant you a Stay of
Execution, allowing you to stay in your apartment for up to six months.
Elderly or disabled tenants can request a stay of up to one year.
If you are being evicted for non-payment of rent, you do not have any legal
basis to request a stay. However, if your damages (which may arise from
counterclaims filed against the landlord) are less than the amount owed to
the landlord (e.g. back rent), you have seven days to avoid eviction by
paying the balance, with interest, and court costs (M.G.L. c. 239, § 8A).
Eviction
When the date written on the execution order arrives, you must move out. If
you do not, a sheriff or constable may remove your belongings and place them
in storage, unless you give permission to have them put on the street. If
your belongings are put in storage, the mover should make a descriptive list
of all stored items. Your former landlord has the right to sue to recover
these eviction costs. The storage company will have a lien on your
belongings, which can be enforced by selling your goods. The storage
company, however, cannot sell your belongings without waiting six months.
You are not required to pay back rent to get your furniture out of storage.
But, you still owe the amount the court finds due, until you pay it for 20
years hence (M.G.L. c. 239, § 4).
Moving out
Before you move out, you should consider scheduling an appointment with the
landlord for an inspection of your apartment. This may help prevent future
disputes with your landlord about apartment damage. Review the Statement of
Condition form if you gave the landlord a security deposit. On the day you
leave, be sure to clean the apartment. You also may want to take and date
pictures of the condition of the apartment at the moment you move out. These
photographs may help resolve security deposit disputes. If you paid the
landlord a security deposit or last month’s rent, leave the landlord your
forwarding address so s/he can mail you any interest you are owed.
Documents
Keep good records of rent payments, complaints, contacts with your landlord,
attempts at repair, correspondence, and other important events and documents
relating to your tenancy. These will help you resolve disputes in court and
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