landlords

Can you seal an eviction record in Massachusetts? Since May 2025, M.G.L. c. 239, § 16 lets tenants petition to seal one. Learn which cases qualify, how long you have to wait, what sealing does and does not change, and what the petition process involves.

How much notice must a Massachusetts landlord give before entering for repairs? Learn when the 48-hour rule applies, why emergencies require no notice, whether tenants must provide access, and what to do if a landlord repeatedly enters without proper warning.

When must your Massachusetts landlord turn on the heat? Learn the statewide heating-season dates, why Cambridge and Medford start later, the minimum legal temperatures for apartments, and what renters can do when their home is too cold, even before heating season begins.

Yes, a landlord selling a Boston apartment building can generally show your unit to buyers while you live there. What Massachusetts law actually requires on notice, why the 24-hour rule isn't statutory, how tenant-at-will rights differ, and when showings become harassment.

Your Boston apartment burned, flooded, or got condemned. Whether you still owe rent, whether your lease is over, and what happens to your deposit are three separate questions with different answers. Here's what to do first, and why your landlord can't lock you out without a court order.

Can your Massachusetts landlord raise the rent as much as they want? There's no statewide cap, but notice rules, lease timing, and retaliation protections still matter. Learn when an increase can take effect, what to check after receiving notice, and when a new fee deserves scrutiny.

Before you sign a Boston lease, a landlord may ask for ID, pay stubs, even a photo of your check. Here's what's standard, what's optional, and what can wait until the lease is signed.

Send a heat complaint to the Attorney General and it won't get forwarded. It just sits. Here's the right office for repairs, fees, deposits, and evictions in Boston, and how to reach each one.

Renting out rooms in Boston? Massachusetts law may require a lodging house license when four or more unrelated people rent individual rooms with shared facilities. Learn where the legal line sits and what your lease allows.

Boston renters are getting fewer replies—but the market may not be as hopeless as it feels. Learn why September searches overwhelm landlord inboxes, when a denial requires an adverse action notice, and how to request and dispute the screening report used against you.

Can a Boston landlord refuse a lock on your bedroom door? Learn what Massachusetts fire and sanitary codes actually require, when a bedroom may count as a rooming unit, and how to request a safe, reversible lock without violating your lease or risking security-deposit charges.

Renting a room from a live-in landlord can save money in Boston, but it comes with less privacy, house rules, and different legal protections. Learn what lodger status means, which rights still apply, and what to put in writing about rent, guests, shared spaces, entry, and move-out notice.

chusetts law says about disclosed fees, broken machines, shared utility costs, mid-lease price changes, and cheaper alternatives.

Should you report code violations before moving out of your Boston apartment? Here's what MA law says about retaliation protection, timing, and evidence.

Before signing with a Boston property management company, learn how to vet them for reviews, licensing, and responsiveness red flags. Plus, understand your Massachusetts renter rights under the habitability law if they go unresponsive after you move in.

Can a broker represent both landlord and tenant in Boston? Learn how Massachusetts broker fee law works, when dual agency is allowed, who pays the broker fee, and what renters should ask before signing a fee disclosure or tenant representation agreement.

We surveyed agents on Spot Easy and here are the top things they wish renters knew when searching for an apartment in Boston.