MGL Ch. 186 §15B caps Boston security deposits at one month's rent, requires interest-bearing escrow in a Massachusetts bank, mandates written receipts, and triggers triple damages if a landlord commingles funds or fails to return deposit within 30 days of tenancy end.
Massachusetts has one of the strictest security deposit statutes in the country. Within 30 days of receipt, landlords must deposit funds in a separate Massachusetts bank account, provide a receipt with bank name, account number, and deposit amount, and complete a statement of condition signed by both parties. Annual interest at 5% or the actual bank rate must be paid. At lease end, deposits must be returned within 30 days minus itemized lawful deductions. Violations of escrow, receipt, or itemization rules entitle the tenant to triple damages, costs, and attorney fees. Last-month's rent collection follows similar rules.
Commingling, missing receipts, late return, or unitemized deductions trigger automatic triple damages plus attorney fees. The penalty applies even for technical paperwork errors.
Boston, MA
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See how Boston's security deposit rules rules stack up against other locations.
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