Tenants' Rights in Massachusetts: Private Housing

Booklets

Booklet 1 Protecting Yourself in an Eviction (January 2022) 

What steps to take before going to court and what to bring to court.

• En español, Tiếng Việt, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, 简体中文

Booklet 2 Housing Code Checklist (May 2023)

An easy-to-use checklist that tells you what conditions violate the State Sanitary Code. You can also use the free self-help guided interview, MADE: Up To Code.

• En español, Português

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. You can also use 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.

• En español, Tiếng Việt, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, 简体中文

Booklet 3A Late Answer & Discovery (January 2022)

How to ask the court to accept your Answer and Discovery forms late.  You can also use Greater Boston Legal Services' free self-help guided interview, MADE.

• En español, Tiếng Việt, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, 简体中文

Booklet 4 Discovery (January 2022)

A form with instructions for tenants facing eviction to get information to prepare for their trial.

• En español, Tiếng Việt, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, 简体中文

Booklet 4A Tenant Foreclosure Discovery (May 2019)

A form with instructions for tenants in foreclosed properties to get information to prepare their case. 

Booklet 5 Transfer (January 2022)

A form you can file to transfer your eviction case from a District Court to a Housing Court.

• En español, Tiếng Việt, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, 简体中文

Booklet 6 Removing Default (January 2022) 

How to get a new court date if you missed your court date.

• En español, Tiếng Việt, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, 简体中文

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) 

How to file an appeal from a case in Housing Court.

Booklet 7B Appeals In All District Courts (June 2017) 

How to file an appeal from a case in District Court.

Booklet 8 Stay (January 2022)

How to get time to stay in your home if you lost your case.

• En español, Tiếng Việt, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, 简体中文

Booklet 9 Affidavit of Indigency (January 2022) 

How to ask the court to pay for court costs. 

• En español, Tiếng Việt, Português, Kreyòl Ayisyen, 简体中文

Booklet 10 Negotiating a Settlement of Your Case (March 2018)

How to think through the terms you want in an agreement. 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)

How to correct errors on your online court records. Booklet includes the court form you can save to your computer, fill out, save again and print when ready.