Are Rental Application Fees Legal in Massachusetts?
What Massachusetts lets a landlord charge to apply — and how that compares to what screening actually costs.
$0 (banned) — Massachusetts bars application and screening fees outright. At lease signing a landlord may only collect first month, last month, a security deposit (capped at one month), and the cost of a new lock and key — nothing else.
A full tenant screen costs a landlord about $30. Landlords typically charge applicants $55 — so any fee well above ~$30 is mostly markup, and in Massachusetts that overage is refundable or unlawful.
| Cap type | Banned — no fee allowed |
|---|---|
| The legal line | $0 (banned) |
| Refund rights | Any application fee is unlawful and fully refundable. |
| Receipt required | Not specified |
| Reusable screening report | Not specified |
| Statute | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B |
Check your Massachusetts application fee
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How Massachusetts compares
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Informational only, not legal advice — verify Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B and current screening costs before acting.