Massachusetts Room Rental Agreement Template

An agreement for renting one bedroom in a shared home, with private and shared areas, house rules, a fair utility split and clear notice terms. This edition fills in the Massachusetts rules we could confirm and marks the rest as blanks to check.

Massachusetts rules for this form

Deposit limit. A security deposit cannot be more than one month of rent. (G.L. c.186, section 15B)

Deadline to return the deposit. The landlord must return the deposit, or the balance after lawful deductions, within 30 days after the tenancy ends. (G.L. c.186, section 15B)

Notice before entry. No statute sets a notice period, but a lease may allow entry only to inspect, make repairs or show the unit, under a court order, if the unit seems abandoned, or to check for damage near the end of the tenancy. (G.L. c.186, section 15B)

Late fees. A lease cannot charge interest or a penalty for late rent until the rent is 30 days overdue. (G.L. c.186, section 15B)

Month-to-month notice. Either side can end a month to month tenancy at will with written notice of one full rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer. (G.L. c.186, section 12)

Required disclosures. A landlord who takes a deposit must give a signed receipt, a written statement of the unit's condition within 10 days, and within 30 days a bank receipt showing the bank, account number and amount. (G.L. c.186, section 15B)

Required disclosures. Landlords must give the state Tenant Lead Law Notification, and homes built before 1978 where a child under six lives must be made lead safe. (Massachusetts Lead Law (G.L. c.111, section 197))

Required disclosures. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet. (Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d))

Cities and counties in Massachusetts can add their own rules on top of these. Check local ordinances before you sign.

What is in the template

1. Parties
2. The room and shared areas
3. Term
4. Rent
5. Utilities and household costs
6. Security deposit
7. House rules
8. Privacy and entry
9. Care and repairs
10. Ending this Agreement for a breach
11. Moving out
12. General terms
13. Signatures

Before you use it

• A room rental agreement covers one private room plus shared use of common areas like the kitchen and bathroom.
• House rules on guests, quiet hours, cleaning and shared costs prevent most housemate disputes.
• Some states treat a renter who lives with the owner differently, especially for eviction, so check before you rely on it.
• Fair housing law still applies to most room rentals, though some owner-occupied homes have narrow exemptions.

For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the room rental agreement.