Request a Massachusetts health inspection
Ask your local board of health to inspect your unit for State Sanitary Code violations.
When to use this
Use this when your unit has conditions that may violate the housing code — no heat or hot water, leaks, pests, mold, unsafe wiring — and the landlord has not fixed them after you asked. An inspector’s written report is powerful evidence.
Steps
- 1Give your landlord a reasonable chance to make the repair, in writing, and keep a copy.
- 2Contact your local board of health, health department, or inspectional services (usually through city or town hall) and request an inspection.
- 3Be present for the inspection if you can, and ask for a copy of the written inspection report and any correction order issued to the landlord.
- 4If the inspector does not respond, follow up with a dated letter requesting the inspection and keep a copy as proof.
Legal basis
Under the State Sanitary Code, 105 CMR 410.600, the local board of health must inspect a dwelling upon a tenant’s request and, where violations exist, order the owner to correct them.
Requesting a housing inspection from your local board of health is free.
Sources & official links
This is general information about how these processes work in Massachusetts — not legal advice, and not a guarantee of any outcome. Deadlines, fees, and procedures change and may differ by city or town. Confirm the details with the official sources linked on this page and, for advice about your situation, a licensed Massachusetts attorney.