Does a home seller have to disclose the property’s condition in Massachusetts?

In Massachusetts, there is no general seller disclosure statement, but anyone selling a home built before 1978 must give the buyer the state’s lead paint notification form and materials before the purchase and sale agreement is signed. The form explains the possible presence of dangerous levels of lead, the symptoms and treatment of lead poisoning, and the state lead law’s requirements, with a separate version for homes with one or more rental units. An owner who fails to comply is liable for all damages caused and may be assessed a penalty of up to $1,000. Federal law separately requires a lead-based paint disclosure when selling most homes built before 1978. This is M.G.L. c. 111, §§ 189A, 197A.

WhatMassachusetts
Seller disclosureNo general form; lead notice for homes built before 1978
Kind of ruleOnly specific written disclosures are required

What the statute says

“All persons selling premises shall, prior to the signing of a purchase and sale agreement, provide a copy of the form and other materials prepared pursuant to subsection (a) to the prospective purchaser.”

Quoted word for word from the section’s text.

Source

M.G.L. c. 111, §§ 189A, 197A

Read the statute in the General Laws of Massachusetts (Massachusetts Legislature): malegislature.gov.

Checked against the statute on November 15, 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 the state’s rule so the costs and paperwork of a sale can be checked against it before a contract is signed. An owner on Seayora keeps each property’s owners of record and its documents in one place.

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