Massachusetts landlord guide
Deposit limits, entry notice, termination notice and rent increase rules for Massachusetts, with the sources they come from.
Massachusetts landlord-tenant rules at a glance
- Security deposit limit
- 1 month's rent
- Deposit return / claim rule
- 30 days
- Deposit interest
- 5%/yr or actual bank rate, paid yearly if held 1+ year
- Notice before entry
- No set notice period; entry limited to listed purposes
- Ending a month-to-month
- 30 days or one full rental period, whichever is longer
- Notice before a rent increase
- Same notice as ending the tenancy (30 days minimum)
- Late fees
- No late fee until rent is 30 days overdue
- Rent control
- Banned statewide by M.G.L. ch. 40P (1994)
General information from the M.G.L. ch. 186 (esp. 15B) and ch. 239, last reviewed 2026-08-21. Not legal advice; municipal bylaws can add requirements.
Create a Massachusetts lease agreement
RentMouse builds a residential lease agreement from guided questions and shows the Massachusetts rules beside the decisions they affect, then sends it for electronic signature. Track rent, repairs and tenants in the same free landlord workspace. Online lease agreements · Rent tracking · Start free