Massachusetts Late Fee Restrictions (M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B(1)(c))

M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B(1)(c) provides that "No lease or other rental agreement shall impose any interest or penalty for failure to pay rent until thirty days after such rent shall have been due." This means a Massachusetts landlord cannot charge a late fee, penalty, or interest the moment rent is a few days late — the rent must be at least 30 days overdue before any such charge can be imposed. The statute does not set a maximum dollar amount or percentage for the late fee itself; its core restriction is the 30-day waiting period. A lease clause purporting to charge a late fee sooner is contrary to the statute and unenforceable.

No fixed statutory fine; a late fee or interest charged before rent is 30 days overdue violates § 15B(1)(c) and is unenforceable, and the tenant may contest or recover an improperly collected charge.