The Massachusetts Renter's Playbook: Know Your Rights Before You Sign

Massachusetts law strictly limits what a landlord can charge and demand. Upfront, a landlord may collect only first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit (capped at one month's rent), and the actual cost of a new lock—nothing else. As of August 1, 2025, you cannot be forced to pay a broker fee unless you personally hired the broker. Security deposits must sit in a separate, interest-bearing Massachusetts bank account, and mishandling them can cost a landlord triple damages. You have a non-waivable right to a habitable home under the State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), including heat of at least 68°F by day. 'Self-help' evictions—changing locks, shutting off utilities, removing belongings—are illegal; only a judge can order an eviction and only a sheriff can carry it out.