Tenants' Rights in Massachusetts: Private Housing

Produced by Massachusetts Law Reform Institute
Reviewed March 2021

The chapters below are from Legal Tactics: Tenants' Rights in Massachusetts, 2017. This handbook provides practical information about tenants' rights in private housing—housing that is owned by an individual or a privately-owned company.

We update some of the different chapters, booklets and forms before we update the whole volume, so some of the files in this list are more recent than 2017.

Each chapter begins with a 2-page handout with highlights of the chapter. The handout is also available as a separate PDF. Below find self-help eviction booklets and forms referenced in each chapter.

You may also buy a paper copy from Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education by calling 1-800-966-6253 or ordering online.

Download individual PDF files below or get the entire book as an eBook - Find Out How.

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Chapters and 2-page Handouts

Chapter 1 Moving In (April 2018)

Handout 1 Moving In (June 2017)

Handout 2 Tenant Screening (June 2017)

Chapter 2 Tenant Screening (June 2017)

Chapter 3 Security Deposit (April 2018)

Handout 3 Security Deposit (June 2017)

Chapter 4 Tenancies (June 2017)

Handout 4 Tenancies (June 2017)

Chapter 5 Rent (June 2017)

Handout 5 Rent (June 2017)

Chapter 6 Utilities (June 2017)

Handout 6 Utilities (June 2017)

Chapter 7 Discrimination (June 2017)

Handout 7 Discrimination (June 2017)

Chapter 8 Getting Repairs Made (June 2017)

Handout 8 Getting Repairs Made (June 2017)

Chapter 9 Lead Poisoning (June 2017)

Handout 9 Lead Poisoning (June 2017)

Chapter 10 Getting Organized (June 2017)

Handout 10 Getting Organized (June 2017)

Chapter 11 Moving Out (June 2017)

Handout 11 Moving Out (June 2017)

Handout 12 Evictions (June 2017)

Chapter 12 Evictions (June 2017)

Chapter 13 Taking Landlords to Court (June 2017)

Handout 13 Taking Landlords to Court (June 2017)

Chapter 14 Using the Court System (June 2017)

Handout 14 Using the Court System (June 2017)

Chapter 15 Rooming Houses (June 2017)

Handout 15 Rooming Houses (June 2017)

Chapter 16 Mobile Homes (June 2017)

Handout 16 Mobile Homes (June 2017)

Chapter 17 Condos (June 2017)

Handout 17 Condos (June 2017)

Chapter 18 Foreclosures (June 2017)

Handout 18 Foreclosures (June 2017)

Reviewed January 2022

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 (March 2021)

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, 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. 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.

Produced by Massachusetts Law Reform Institute with assistance from Massachusetts Legal Services Programs
Reviewed January 2021

Forms Checklists and Letters

Form 1 Moving In Checklist (June 2017)

Form 2 Sample Rent Receipt (June 2017)

Form 3 Statement of Condition (June 2017)

Form 4 Security Deposit Last Months Rent Receipt (June 2017)

Form 5 Security Deposit Demand Letter (June 2017)

Form 6 Security Deposit Demand Tenants (June 2017)
Or try the MassAccess interactive interview, Form 6 Security Deposit Demand Letter (January 2021), that lets you complete, review, sign and send your letter to your landlord from your smart phone or computer.

Form 7 Ilness Utility Doctors (June 2017)

Form 8 Illness Utility Forms for Doctors (June 2017)

Form 9 Repair Letter (June 2017)

Form 10 Repair Demand (June 2017)

Form 11 Inspection Request (June 2017)

Form 12 Rent Withholding (June 2017)

Form 13 Repair and Deduct (June 2017)

Form 14 Tenant Petition (June 2017)

Form 15 Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) (June 2017) You can use this form to ask a court to order your landlord to correct a problem, like making an emergency repair, or stop doing something illegal like locking you out of your apartment.
Or try the MassAccess interactive interview, Complaint for a Temporary Restraining Order, that lets you complete, review, sign and send your request for a Temporary Restraining Order to the court from your smart phone or computer.

Form 16 Tenant Lead Law (June 2017)

Form 17 Moving Out Checklist (June 2017)

Form 18 Lockout Demand (June 2017) Use this form if you have been locked out of your apartment illegally, or if your landlord has shutoff your utilities illegally.

Form 19 Summary Process (June 2017)

Form 20 Motion to Dismiss (June 2017)

Form 21 Sample Execution (June 2017)

Form 22 Tenant Survey (June 2017)

Form 23 Sample Collective Bargaining Agreement (June 2017)

Form 24 Sample Resolution (June 2017)

Form 25 Sample Organizing Petition (June 2017)

Form 26 Conditions Rent Tender Letter (June 2017)

Form 27 Organizing Flier (June 2017)

Form 28 Organizing Letter to Owner (June 2017)

Form 29 Organizing Press Release (June 2017)

Form 30 Organizing Meeting Agenda (June 2017)