Boston Residential Lease Agreement
Generate a residential lease agreement that complies with Boston's local ordinances — including rent control rules, just-cause eviction requirements, and mandatory disclosures that go beyond Massachusetts state law.
Boston Residential Lease Agreement
Boston, Massachusetts
Local Ordinances
Boston Lease Requirements
What Boston's local ordinances require that Massachusetts state law does not.
Landlord must ensure the rental unit passes inspection by the Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD) or the Board of Health upon tenant complaint; violations must be remediated within the timeframes specified in the inspection notice.
For units in buildings constructed before 1978, landlord must provide a lead paint inspection and obtain a letter of full compliance or interim control letter from a licensed lead inspector before a child under six years old resides in the unit.
Last month's rent, if collected, must be held in a separate interest-bearing bank account, and the tenant must receive annual written statements of accrued interest.
Security deposits must be held in a separate interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank; within 30 days of receipt, landlord must provide a written receipt with the institution name, account number, and a description of the unit's condition (if deductions are anticipated).
Landlord who operates a short-term rental (STR) through platforms such as Airbnb must be an owner-occupant of the property and hold a valid City of Boston STR license; investor-owned units may not be used as STRs.
Restrictions & Limits
Landlord may not commingle last month's rent or a security deposit with personal or operating funds; separate interest-bearing accounts are required for each under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 186 §15B.
Landlord may not deduct from the security deposit without providing a written itemized list of damages within 30 days of the tenant's departure; failure to comply results in forfeiture of the right to retain any portion of the deposit.
Landlord may not rent or continue to rent a unit that the Boston Board of Health has declared unfit for human habitation; the landlord must remediate conditions before resuming occupancy.
Owner of a non-owner-occupied unit may not operate that unit as a short-term rental under Boston's Short-Term Rental Ordinance (BPDA Ordinance No. 2018); only owner-occupied units and their accessory units may be licensed as STRs.
Landlord may not increase rent or serve an eviction notice in retaliation for a tenant's report of housing code violations to the Boston ISD or Board of Health; retaliatory acts are prohibited under M.G.L. Chapter 186 §18.
Notice Requirements
Boston landlords must provide at least 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy (or a notice equal to the rental period, whichever is longer), and any rent increase requires advance written notice consistent with the lease term and Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 186.
FAQ
Boston Lease FAQ
Common questions about renting in Boston.
What are Boston's security deposit rules for residential leases?
Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 186 §15B, Boston landlords must hold security deposits in a separate, interest-bearing account at a bank located in Massachusetts. Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must provide a written receipt stating the institution name, account number, and the current condition of the unit if the landlord intends to make deductions. The deposit plus accrued interest must be returned within 30 days of move-out, accompanied by an itemized damage list if any deductions are made.
What lead paint obligations apply to Boston landlords of pre-1978 buildings?
Massachusetts Lead Law (M.G.L. Chapter 111 §197A) requires landlords to have units in pre-1978 buildings inspected for lead paint hazards when a child under six years old will reside there. A licensed lead inspector must certify either full compliance (all lead removed) or interim control (hazards managed). Boston's Inspectional Services Department enforces this requirement, and landlords who fail to comply face significant civil liability and fines.
Can a Boston landlord operate a short-term rental in their investment property?
No. Under Boston's Short-Term Rental Ordinance, only owner-occupants may obtain a STR license for their primary residence and, in some cases, one additional unit on the same property. Investor-owned properties where the owner does not reside are not eligible for a STR license. Unauthorized short-term rentals are subject to fines and enforcement action by the City of Boston.
What happens if a tenant reports a housing code violation in Boston?
Tenants may report housing code violations to the Boston Inspectional Services Department (ISD) or the Board of Health, which will inspect the property and issue a violation notice requiring remediation within a specified timeframe. If the landlord fails to remedy serious conditions, the Board of Health may order the unit vacated. Importantly, any rent increase or eviction notice served within six months of a tenant's complaint is presumed retaliatory under M.G.L. Chapter 186 §18, and the landlord bears the burden of proving a non-retaliatory purpose.
Create Your Boston Lease Agreement
Our AI builds a lease that incorporates Boston's local ordinances automatically — so you don't have to research them yourself.
Disclaimer: LegalLawDocs.com provides self-help legal documents for informational purposes only. The documents and information on this site do not constitute legal advice and are not a substitute for consultation with a licensed attorney. Laws vary by state and change frequently — review your document with a qualified professional before relying on it.