Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 186 — Estates for Years and at Will
Core MA landlord-tenant law: security deposits (§15B), last-month rent, retaliatory eviction (§18), entry rights, habitability warranty, and tenancy termination rules. Includes the dual-effective-date §15B (amended by St. 2025, c. 9).
Provisions (41)
§ 1
Repealed, 2008, 521, Sec. 5
§ 10
Rent as a necessary
§ 11
Determination of lease for nonpayment of rent
§ 11A
Termination of lease for nonpayment of rent
§ 12
Notice to determine estate at will
§ 13
Recovery of possession after termination of tenancy at will
§ 13A
Tenants deemed to be at will upon foreclosure of residential real property; status of tenancy agreements where rental payment subsidized under state or federal law
§ 14
Wrongful acts of landlord; premises used for dwelling or residential purposes; utilities, services, quiet enjoyment; penalties; remedies; waiver
§ 15
Non-liability of landlord; provisions in lease or rental agreement
§ 15A
Waiver of notices; lease or rental agreement provisions; validity
§ 15B
Entrance of premises prior to termination of lease; payments; receipts; interest; records; security deposits
§ 15C
Residential real estate, lease payments based on real estate tax increases
§ 15D
Oral agreement to execute lease; delivery of lease copy; penalty; waiver
§ 15E
Action against owner; injuries due to defects violating building code; defense; waiver
§ 15F
Residential leases or rental agreements restricting litigation or landlord liability; ouster of tenant; remedies
§ 16
Leases or rental agreements restricting occupancy of children
§ 17
Occupancy constituting tenancy at will; termination
§ 17A
Residential care and services; housing facility providers; eviction; hearing; jurisdiction
§ 18
Reprisal for reporting violations of law or for tenant's union activity; damages and costs; notice of termination, presumption; waiver in leases or other rental agreements prohibited
§ 19
Notice to landlord of unsafe condition; tort actions for injuries resulting from uncorrected condition
§ 1A
Land demised for term of 100 years or more regarded as estate in fee simple
§ 2
Repealed, 2012, 140, Sec. 2
§ 20
Attorneys' fees and expenses; residential lease provisions; implied covenant; waiver
§ 21
Disclosure of insurance information by lessor; violations; waiver
§ 22
Definitions; submeter installation; testing; water use charges; public housing development exemption
§ 23
Definitions applicable to Secs. 23 to 29
§ 24
Termination of rental agreement or tenancy by victim of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking
§ 25
Refusal of rental agreement or assistance based on termination of rental agreement under Sec. 24 or request for change of lock under Sec. 26 prohibited
§ 26
Change of locks upon request of tenant, co-tenant or household member believed to be under imminent threat of domestic violence, rape, sexual assault or stalking
§ 27
Jurisdiction of courts to restrain violation of Secs. 23 to 26; applicability of other laws to requests to change locks
§ 28
Waivers of Secs. 23 to 27 void and unenforceable
§ 29
Owner immunity from liability
§ 3
Tenancy at sufferance; liability for rent
§ 30
Inspection of vacated property for presence of abandoned animals
§ 31
Notice to quit for nonpayment of rent
§ 4
Liability of tenant for rent for proportion of land in possession
§ 5
Action to recover rent; evidence
§ 6
Survival of action
§ 7
Remedies of landlords
§ 8
Recovery of rent accruing before determination of lease
§ 9