• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Legal Templates

Legal Templates
  • Business Forms

    Business & Contracts

    All of our legal contracts and documents are drafted and regularly updated by licensed attorneys. Save your hard-earned money and time with Legal Templates.

    Top Business Forms

    Business Formation
    • Business Plan
    • LLC Operating Agreement
    • Articles of Incorporation
    • Corporate Bylaws
    • Buy-Sell Agreement
    Business Operations
    • Business Contract
    • Partnership Agreement
    • Non-Disclosure Agreement
    • Release of Liability
    • Letter of Intent
    Sales and Payments
    • Purchase Agreement
    • Sales Agreement
    • Invoice
    • Purchase Order
    • Business Purchase
    Employment and HR
    • Employment Contract
    • Employment Offer
    • Employment Verification
    • Freelance Contract
    • Non-Compete Agreement
    View All Business Forms
  • Real Estate Forms

    Real Estate

    All of our legal contracts and documents are drafted and regularly updated by licensed attorneys. Save your hard-earned money and time with Legal Templates.

    Top Real Estate Forms

    Landlords
    • Lease Agreement
    • Property Management
    • Eviction Notice
    • Late Rent Notice
    • Lease Termination
    Tenants
    • Room Rental
    • Sublease Agreement
    • Roommate Agreement
    • Notice to Vacate
    • Early Lease Termination
    Home Ownership
    • Real Estate Purchase Agreement
    • Mortgage Deed
    • Quitclaim Deed
    • Deed of Trust
    • Moving Checklist
    View all Real Estate Forms
  • Personal & Family Forms

    Personal and Family

    All of our legal contracts and documents are drafted and regularly updated by licensed attorneys. Save your hard-earned money and time with Legal Templates.

    Top Personal and Family Forms

    Estate Planning
    • Power of Attorney
    • Last Will & Testament
    • Living Will
    • Advance Directive
    • DNR Form
    Personal Finance
    • Bill of Sale
    • Loan Agreement
    • Purchase Agreement
    • Promissory Note
    • Sales Agreement
    Family Matters
    • Parenting Plan
    • Child Travel Consent
    • Divorce Agreement
    • Separation Agreement
    • Prenuptial Agreement
    Affidavits
    • General Affidavit
    • Gift Affidavit
    • Affidavit of Identity
    • Affidavit of Residence
    • Affidavit of Death
    View All Personal Forms
  • Support
    Resources
    • Business
    • Real Estate
    • Personal and Family
    • Financial
    • Estate Planning
    Support
    • About Us
    • Careers
    • Contact Us
    • All Legal Documents

    Monday - Friday | 9AM - 7PM EDT

    (855) 335-9779

  • Sign In
  • :email

Home Real Estate Documents Lease/Rental Agreement Massachusetts

Free Massachusetts Residential Lease/Rental Agreement

Use our Massachusetts Lease Agreement to rent out your property.

Updated May 13, 2022 | Legally reviewed by Susan Chai, Esq.

All states are required by Federal law to have certain information in their Lease Agreements, including:

  1. The identities and contact information of landlord and tenant,
  2. The address of the premises,
  3. Pet prohibitions and allowances,
  4. Health, pest, and other hazard disclosures,
  5. Security deposit details

States will certainly differ on some rental and leasing requirements, therefore it is important to familiarize yourself with Massachusetts’ specific laws and nuances.

Other Massachusetts Real Estate documents you might be interested in are:

  • Sublease Agreement –  Used by a tenant to rent out all or part of their rented property to a new tenant.
  • Eviction Notice – Used by a landlord to start the eviction process with a current tenant.
Table of Contents
  • Massachusetts Residential Lease Agreement Sample
  • Massachusetts Landlord and Tenant Laws

1. Massachusetts Residential Lease Agreement Sample

The sample lease agreement below describes a contract between “Landlord” Esmerelda Garcia and “Tenant” Henry Peterson. She agrees to rent an apartment in Boston for $800.00 per month for a fixed term. The tenant agrees to pay for all utilities and services for the Premises.

This is a good example of what provisions a simple lease agreement might contain, and how one should look in its final form.

Massachusetts Lease Agreement Sample

2. Massachusetts Landlord and Tenant Laws

Massachusetts imposes specific and distinct requirements for landlords and tenants when executing a Lease/Rental Agreement. For example, Massachusetts statute provides for the following:

Security Deposit:

  1. A landlord is limited to request one (1) month’s rent from a tenant as the security deposit. (MGL c.186 § 15B(1)(b)(iii))
  2. A landlord is required to return the security deposit to the tenant within thirty (30) days of the end of the lease. (MGL c.186 § 15B(3)(a))
  3. A landlord is required to pay to the tenant five percent (5%) interest per year on a security deposit. If the security deposit is held in an interest-bearing bank account, then a lesser amount may be paid according to the interest accrued by that bank. (MGL c. 186 § 15B(2)(a))

Landlord Right of Entry:

  1. Although twenty-four (24) recommended, a landlord is not required to give any notice to the tenant before entering the property. (MGL c.186 § 15B(1)(a))

Additionally, the Massachusetts Consumer Affairs & Business Regulations Handbook provides:

Utilities:

  1. A landlord must provide adequate water utilities to meet ordinary needs, and must provide the means to heat the water to 110-130 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. From September 16th to June 14th, from the hours of 7 am to 11 pm, all rooms are required to be heated to at minimum sixty-eight (68) degrees Fahrenheit, and at least sixty-four (64) degrees at all other hours.

Pests:

  1. A landlord must keep the property free of cockroaches, insect infestations, and rodents when there are two or more apartments in a building.

Kitchen:

  1. A landlord is required to provide the tenant with a kitchen, including; a sink large enough to wash dishes, a working oven and stove, and sufficient space for the installation of a refrigerator.
  2. Keep in mind that a landlord is not required to provide a refrigerator, however, if they do provide one, they must keep it in working order.

Additional Documents

Disclosure of Lead-Based Hazards

All Massachusetts landlords of any building constructed before 1978 must notify all tenants of the potential existence of lead-based hazards. (Title 42 U.S. Code § 4852(d))

PDF

Rental Inspection Checklist

Within ten (10) days of accepting a security deposit, a landlord must provide the tenant with a rental inspection checklist describing the currently-existing damage to the rental unit, as well as any violations of state sanitary or building codes. The tenant may inspect the premises and submit their own rental inspection checklist. (MGL c. 186 § 15B(3)(c))

Said checklist must include the following statement in twelve-point bold-face font:

“This is a statement of the condition of the premises you have leased or rented. You should read it carefully in order to see if it is correct. If it is correct you must sign it. This will show that you agree that the list is correct and complete. If it is not correct, you must attach a separate signed list of any damage which you believe exists in the premises. This statement must be returned to the lessor or his agent within fifteen days after you receive this list or within fifteen days after you move in, whichever is later. If you do not return this list, within the specified time period, a court may later view your failure to return the list as your agreement that the list is complete and correct in any suit which you may bring to recover the security deposit.“

Security Deposit Notice

A landlord must provide a tenant with a dated receipt indicating the amount of the security deposit received. (MGL c. 186 § 15B(3)(b))

PDF Word
Massachusetts Lease Rental Agreement Form Template

Free Massachusetts Lease Agreement Form

Create Your Massachusetts Lease Agreement in Minutes!

Legal Documents

  • All Legal Forms
  • Business Forms
  • Real Estate Forms
  • Personal and Family Forms

Popular Forms

  • Lease Agreements
  • Power of Attorney Forms
  • Eviction Notice
  • Living Will
  • Non-Disclosure Agreement

Resources

  • Legal Resources
  • Business
  • Real Estate
  • Personal & Family
  • Estate Planning
  • Financial
  • Covid-19 Resources

Company

  • Pricing
  • About Us
  • Careers
  • Contact Us
  • Partner With Us
  • Legal Dictionary

Users

  • Account
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Do Not Sell My Personal Information
McAfee - Together is power.
Trustpilot
BBB Accredited Business

(855) 335-9779, Monday-Friday, 9AM - 7PM EDT

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn

Copyright 2022 Legal Templates LLC. Legal Templates LLC is not a lawyer, or a law firm and does not engage in the practice of law. Legal Templates cannot and does not provide legal advice or legal representation. All information, software and services provided on the site are for informational purposes and self-help only and are not intended to be a substitute for a lawyer or professional legal advice. Use of this site is subject to our Terms of Use.

Thank you for downloading one of our free legal templates!

Would you leave us a review?

We hope you've found what you need and are able to avoid the time, costs, and stress associated with dealing with a lawyer.

A review would mean the world to us (it only takes about 15 seconds).

Please check your download folder for MS Word or open tabs for PDF so you can access your FREE Legal Template Sample

Thanks again, and good luck!

Leave My Review