Tenant rights in Massachusetts.
A working reference for what Massachusetts’s residential tenancy law actually requires — the kind of details a lease can’t legally override, and the citations that back them.
Regulator · Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
Strict limits — deposit cannot exceed 1 month's rent; must be held in a separate interest-bearing account in a Massachusetts bank; tenant entitled to annual interest. Triple damages for non-compliance.
Mass. General Laws Ch. 186 §15B (MGL c.186 §15B)
30-day notice required for tenancy-at-will termination; 7 days for non-payment with right to cure.
Mass. General Laws Ch. 186 §13 (MGL c.186 §13)
Rebuttable presumption of retaliation if landlord acts within 6 months of tenant exercising legal rights.
Mass. General Laws Ch. 239 §2A (MGL c.239 §2A)
Detailed minimum habitability standards — heat ≥68°F (Sept 16–Jun 14), hot water, watertight roof, working appliances, etc. Cannot be waived.
State Sanitary Code, 105 CMR 410 (105 CMR 410)
Things a lease can’t change.
- Tenants commonly pay broker fees, but as of 2025 the Boston/state landscape is shifting — verify whether a fee was disclosed in writing before signing.
- Last month's rent (separate from deposit) must accrue interest payable to tenant annually.
- Pre-1978 units — landlord must deliver Lead Paint Disclosure and Tenant Lead Law Notification.
Where to escalate.
Informational, not legal advice. Statutes change — verify current text before relying on a citation.