Massachusetts Landlord Laws & Resources

Everything Massachusetts landlords need to operate legally and confidently: security deposit rules, notice periods, required lease clauses, broker fee disclosures, and statute citations.

List a Property in Massachusetts

Security Deposit Rules

1.00 mo Maximum Deposit (months of rent)

30 days Return Deadline After Move-Out

5.00% Annual Interest Owed to Tenant

Not required Escrow Account

Last month's rent (LMR) may be collected separately from the deposit cap.

Statute: M.G.L. c.186 s.15B

Notice Requirements

Notice Type	Required Period	Statute
Broker Fee Disclosure (Landlord-Pays Required)	—	M.G.L. c. 112, sec. 87DDD3/4 (as amended Aug 2025)
Annual Security Deposit Interest	—	M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B(3)(b)
Reasonable Notice to Enter	—	M.G.L. c. 186, sec. 15B(1)(a)
30-day Notice of Non-Renewal (or rental period, whichever longer)	30 days	M.G.L. c. 186 § 12
14-day Notice to Quit for Non-Payment	14 days	M.G.L. c. 186 § 11
14-Day Notice to Quit for Nonpayment	14 days	M.G.L. c. 186, sec. 11 & 11A
30-Day Notice to Terminate Tenancy	30 days	M.G.L. c. 186, sec. 12
30-Day Notice of Rent Increase	30 days	M.G.L. c. 186, sec. 12 (by analogy)
Security Deposit Return	30 days	M.G.L. c. 186, sec. 15B

Broker Fee Rules

MA Broker Fee Reform (Ch. 55 of 2025)

Tenant owes broker fee: No

Written disclosure required: Yes

Broker fee owed by whichever party hired the broker. If tenant hired broker, written Fee Disclosure Agreement required before signing. Effective August 1, 2025.

Effective: 2025-08-01

Required & Recommended Lease Clauses

State-specific lease clauses for Massachusetts are being updated.