🏠 MASSACHUSETTS · SECURITY DEPOSIT LAW
Security deposits in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. The deposit itself is capped at 1 month's rent. Miss that deadline and the consequence is specific: three times the deposit, plus 5% interest, costs and attorney fees.
The Massachusetts statute
VERIFIED PRIMARY SOURCE
§ Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 § 15B
A security deposit may not exceed the first month’s rent and must be held in a separate interest-bearing account (§ 15B(1)(b)(iii), (3)). The lessor must return the deposit or its balance within thirty days after the end of the tenancy (§ 15B(4)). Violations entitle the tenant to three times the deposit or balance owed, plus 5% interest, court costs, and reasonable attorney’s fees (§ 15B(7)). Verified against primary statute text (malegislature.gov) 2026-07-27.
Read the Massachusetts source text →Massachusetts deadlines at a glance
| Rule | What Massachusetts requires |
|---|---|
| Deadline to return or itemize | 30 days after the tenancy ends |
| Maximum deposit | 1 month's rent |
| If the landlord misses the deadline | Three times the deposit, plus 5% interest, costs and attorney fees |
| Governing statute | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B |
Deposit must be held in a separate interest-bearing account (§ 15B(3)); treble damages under § 15B(7) attach to the enumerated violations. Every figure here was read from the Massachusetts statute text, not a secondary summary. Verified against the primary source →
What security deposits law covers in Massachusetts
The 30 days clock in MassachusettsMass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B sets Massachusetts's deadline at 30 days from the end of the tenancy. Deposit must be held in a separate interest-bearing account (§ 15B(3)); treble damages under § 15B(7) attach to the enumerated violations.
Massachusetts caps the deposit at 1 month's rentA Massachusetts landlord may not demand more than 1 month's rent as a security deposit under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B. A deposit collected above the cap is recoverable even if you agreed to it in the lease.
Itemization is the condition of keeping anythingWithholding any part of the deposit in Massachusetts requires a written, itemized statement within the 30 days window. A lump-sum "cleaning and repairs" line is the kind of entry that fails the statute — and ordinary wear and tear is not deductible.
What missing the deadline costs in MassachusettsThree times the deposit, plus 5% interest, costs and attorney fees — that is the remedy Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B attaches to a late or missing statement, which is why the date you moved out and the date you gave a forwarding address both matter.
What to do in Massachusetts, in order
- Write down the date the tenancy ended and you handed back possession — in Massachusetts the 30 days clock runs from that date.
- Document the unit on move-out day: video every room, appliance, and wall, and keep the file timestamped.
- Send your forwarding address in writing and keep proof — several statutes start or extend the clock from it.
- If 30 days pass with no deposit and no itemized statement, send a demand letter citing Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B and the penalty it carries.
- If the landlord still doesn't pay, Massachusetts small claims court handles deposit cases cheaply — and the statutory penalty (three times the deposit, plus 5% interest, costs and attorney fees) is what you ask the court to award.
Common questions about security deposits in Massachusetts
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Massachusetts?
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B gives your landlord 30 days after the tenancy ends to return your security deposit or send you an itemized statement of what was withheld. Deposit must be held in a separate interest-bearing account (§ 15B(3)); treble damages under § 15B(7) attach to the enumerated violations.
What happens if my Massachusetts landlord misses the deadline?
Three times the deposit, plus 5% interest, costs and attorney fees. That remedy is written into Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B — you generally have to claim it, and small claims court is where deposit cases of this size are decided.
How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts caps it at 1 month's rent under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B. A lease term purporting to charge more does not make the excess lawful.
Can my Massachusetts landlord keep the deposit for cleaning?
Only to return the unit to its move-in cleanliness, and any deduction must appear in the itemized statement due within 30 days. Routine turnover cleaning and ordinary wear — faded paint, traffic-worn carpet — are generally the landlord's cost, not yours.
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Run the Lease Analyzer — free →This page is general legal information, not legal advice, and doesn’t create an attorney-client relationship. Statutes change and have exceptions; the linked primary source controls. For advice on your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.