Can a tenant repair and deduct from rent in Massachusetts?
Yes, within limits. In Massachusetts, once a board of health or code agency certifies a violation that endangers health or safety, and the owner, notified in writing, does not begin repairs within five days and substantially complete them within fourteen, the tenant may make the repairs and deduct the cost from the rent, up to four months’ rent in any twelve months. An owner may recover an unreasonable or excessive deduction in a separate action, but not in an eviction case. Each step has to be followed as the statute sets it out, including the written notice and the waiting period, or the deduction can be treated as unpaid rent. This is M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L.
| What | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| Repair and deduct | Allowed by statute, within a cap |
| Limit | Up to four months’ rent a year, after a code certification |
Source
M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L
Read the statute in the General Laws of Massachusetts (Massachusetts Legislature): malegislature.gov.
Checked against the statute on October 23, 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
Every deadline on this page runs from the tenant’s notice. A repair request filed in Seayora keeps the date it was made and every update after it, on the website and both phone apps, so owner and tenant are working from the same date.
Guides on this rule
- How Long Does a Landlord Have to Make Repairs? Deadlines by State — Repair deadlines after a tenant’s notice in Washington, Texas, Arizona, Oregon, California and Florida, and what a tenant may do if the landlord misses one.
Compare this rule in every state
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