Massachusetts (MA) lease form
Massachusetts residential leases are governed primarily by MGL Chapter 186 (Estates for Years and at Will) and enforced by the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. The state imposes specific disclosure obligations, voids several common landlord-friendly clauses as against public policy, and requires landlords to deliver certain documents at or before lease signing. Landlords who ignore these requirements face rent withholding rights, triple damages, and attorney fee exposure.
Revun generates a Massachusetts-ready lease with the required disclosures and clauses built in, then handles e-signature, rent, and renewals on the same platform.
Federal law (42 U.S.C. 4852d) requires landlords of housing built before 1978 to disclose known lead-based paint hazards, provide the EPA pamphlet 'Protect Your Family from Lead in Your Home,' and obtain a signed tenant acknowledgment before occupancy.
Massachusetts landlords must deliver a written statement of the unit's condition at lease commencement; tenants have 15 days to note any discrepancies, and the document becomes the baseline for security deposit dispute resolution.
The lease must state the landlord's legal name and a Massachusetts address where notices can be served, along with a telephone number monitored at least every 12 hours or an alternative contact during absences (MGL c.186, s.15D).
Within 15 days of a tenant's written request, landlords must provide the insurer's name, the coverage amount, and the identity of the loss payee for the building's fire insurance policy.
In multi-unit buildings where tenants are individually billed for water, the lease must include the landlord's certification of code compliance and explain exactly how water charges are calculated and allocated.
General information, not legal advice. Governing statute: Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 186 (Estates for Years and at Will). Confirm current requirements or consult an attorney before finalizing a lease.
Massachusetts lease FAQ
Massachusetts landlords must provide a lead-paint disclosure for pre-1978 units, a written Statement of Condition, the landlord's legal name and address, and water-billing details in multi-unit buildings where tenants pay for water.
No. Under MGL c.186, s.15B, a landlord cannot charge a late fee until 30 days after the rent due date; any lease clause imposing an earlier fee is unenforceable.
Clauses that waive a tenant's right to a jury trial, hold the landlord harmless for their own negligence, deny the tenant's right to claim constructive eviction, or waive anti-retaliation protections are all void under MGL c.186, ss.15, 15F, and 18.
Massachusetts limits the security deposit to one month's rent; the landlord must hold it in a separate interest-bearing Massachusetts bank account and provide a written receipt within 30 days of collection under MGL c.186, s.15B.
