General information, not legal advice. This template is a starting point. Laws differ by state and city, so have a licensed attorney review your final document before you use it.
Last reviewed
The short version
- A free Massachusetts edition of our sublease agreement template, as a PDF to print and a Word file to edit.
- A security deposit cannot be more than one month of rent.
- The landlord must return the deposit, or the balance after lawful deductions, within 30 days after the tenancy ends.
- 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.
- Have a Massachusetts attorney review your final version before you use it.
An agreement between a current tenant and a subtenant for all or part of a rental home, tied to the original lease, with a landlord consent section. 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)
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)
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)
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
- Parties
- The master lease
- Subleased space
- Term
- Rent
- Utilities and shared costs
- Security deposit
- Condition and inspection
- Rules
- Repairs and access
- Default
- General terms
- Signatures
- Landlord consent
Before you use it
- In a sublease the original tenant stays responsible to the landlord, and the subtenant answers to the original tenant.
- Most leases require the landlord's written consent before a tenant sublets, and some states limit when a landlord may refuse.
- A sublease can never last longer than the original lease or give the subtenant more rights than the tenant has.
- Landlords should screen subtenants with the same criteria they use for any applicant.
For the full explanation of this form, read our guide to the sublease agreement.
Get the Massachusetts sublease agreement
Free, no sign up. Fill it in by hand or edit the Word file.
General template, not legal advice. Have a Massachusetts attorney review before use.
Verify current law
We last checked these Massachusetts rules on . Laws change and cities can add their own, so confirm the current text before you rely on it, and talk to a Massachusetts attorney about your situation.
Laws named on this page
- G.L. c.186, section 15B
- G.L. c.186, section 12
- Massachusetts Lead Law (G.L. c.111, section 197)
- Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d)
Official sources
Goes with this form
Using this template. Have a local attorney check it.
What does Massachusetts law say about deposit limit?
A security deposit cannot be more than one month of rent. Source: G.L. c.186, section 15B.
What does Massachusetts law say about deadline to return the deposit?
The landlord must return the deposit, or the balance after lawful deductions, within 30 days after the tenancy ends. Source: G.L. c.186, section 15B.
What does Massachusetts law say about 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. Source: G.L. c.186, section 12.
What does Massachusetts law say about 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. Source: G.L. c.186, section 15B.
What does Massachusetts law say about 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. 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. Homes built before 1978 need the federal lead-based paint disclosure and the EPA pamphlet. Source: G.L. c.186, section 15B; Massachusetts Lead Law (G.L. c.111, section 197); Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act (42 U.S.C. 4852d).