How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, at or before the start of a tenancy a landlord may require only the first month’s rent, the last month’s rent, a security deposit of up to one month’s rent and the cost of a new lock and key — an application fee is not among them. This is M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b).
| What | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Application fee | Not permitted |
Source
M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b)
Read the statute in the General Laws of Massachusetts (Massachusetts Legislature): malegislature.gov.
Checked against the statute on September 11, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
This page states what the state allows a landlord to charge somebody applying to rent, so a fee can be checked against it before it is advertised or collected.
Guides on this rule
- FCRA Adverse Action Notices: What Landlords Must Tell Applicants — When a screening report leads you to deny an applicant or ask for more, the Fair Credit Reporting Act requires a notice. What it must say, with the statute.
- Reusable Tenant Screening Reports: When Landlords Must Accept Them — Colorado requires landlords to accept a portable screening report; California, Maryland and Washington set disclosure and fee rules; New York waives the fee.
- Tenant Screening: What Landlords Need to Know — How to screen rental applicants fairly and legally: credit and background checks, consistent criteria, the FCRA’s adverse action notice and fair housing.
Compare this rule in every state
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