Tenant Rights

Boston Rental Housing Resource Center: Guide for Tenants and Landlords!

Tenant's Rights

• Only a licensed real-estate broker or salesperson can charge you a finder’s fee (fee for finding you an apartment).

• Before you move in, the landlord can only demand the first and last month’s rent, one month’s security deposit and the purchase and installation cost for a lock and key.

• Tenants with a lease (this type of tenancy requires you to rent an apartment for a particular period of time): If you are leasing an apartment, the landlord cannot raise the rent or attempt to evict you until the time of the lease is up.

• Tenants at will (allows either you or the landlord to end the tenancy whenever either of you feel necessary): If the landlord wishes to increase your rent, he must terminate your tenancy and then make you an offer to remain in the apartment at the increased rent.

You also have the right to have certain things available to you in your apartment in order to make it livable, within the terms of the lease. If the following requirements are not met, you have the right to withhold a portion of the rent, from the date the landlord is notified:

• You must be provided with running water, and you can’t be charged for it. Also, the means to heat it must be provided.

• Your apartment must be kept at a certain temperature.

• You must be provided a kitchen with a sink, stove, oven and refrigerator.

• The landlord must keep the apartment rodent- and insect-free.

These are your rights — use them to your benefit and make your tenancy a successful and happy one! If you want more information, check Massachusetts Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Web site for excellent and reliable information.