Tenants' Rights in Massachusetts: Private Housing

Booklets

Booklet 1 Protecting Yourself in an Eviction (January 22)

Booklet 2 Housing Code Checklist (March 2021) An easy-to-use checklist that tells you what the minimum legal requirements for rental housing are under the State Sanitary Code. En español, Tiếng Việt, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, 简体中文, ខ្មែរ

Booklet 3 The Answer (January 2022) The Answer is a court form that tenants facing evictions can file with the court to outline your legal claims and tell the court your side of the story. Also see Greater Boston Legal Services' free self-help guided interview, MADE. The interview is based on Booklet 3. It asks you questions and helps you build the Answer you need to file at court.

Booklet 3A Late Answer & Discovery (January 2022) Use a Motion to Allow Late Answer & Discovery to ask the court to allow you to file your Answer and Discovery late. This booklet tells you how to complete the motion. Also see Greater Boston Legal Services' free self-help guided interview, MADE.

Booklet 4 Discovery (January 2022) A form with instructions for tenants facing eviction to use to request information from the landlord to prepare for your trial.

Booklet 4A Tenant Foreclosure Discovery (May 2019)

Booklet 5 Transfer (January 2022) A form you can file to transfer your eviction case from a District Court to a Housing Court.

Booklet 6 Removing Default (January 2022)

Booklet 7 Appeals (June 2017) If you lost your eviction trial and think you have a good case, you may appeal. This document tells you which Appeal form to use.

Booklet 7A Appeals In All Housing Courts (June 2017)
This is the appeal form to use if you lost your eviction case in a Massachusetts Housing Court or Superior Court.

Booklet 7B Appeals In All District Courts (June 2017)
This is the appeal form to use if you lost your eviction case in a District Court.

Booklet 8 Stay (January 2022) A form tenants can use to ask a court for more time to move if you lost your eviction case or agreed to a court judgment to move out.

Booklet 9 Affidavit of Indigency (January 2022)

Booklet 10 Negotiating a Settlement of Your Case (March 2018) includes a worksheet and stipulation forms to use when you go to court. Read this booklet as webpages and watch the videos!

Booklet 11 Error Correction Booklet (June 2017) Correcting Errors in Your Online Court Record. Booklet includes the court form you can save to your computer, fill out, save again and print when ready.