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🏛️ Massachusetts Tenant Screening Laws (2025)

Complete guide to Massachusetts rental application fees, background check requirements, source of income protections, and Fair Housing compliance for landlords and tenants.

📋 Overview of Massachusetts Tenant Screening Laws

Massachusetts operates within the national patchwork of tenant screening laws by state that varies dramatically from state to state. Understanding Massachusetts’s specific requirements is essential for both landlords seeking compliance and tenants understanding their rights during the rental application process. This comprehensive guide covers all aspects of Massachusetts tenant screening law as of 2025.

The Massachusetts rental market serves approximately 7.0 million residents, with Approximately 38% of households rent. Boston metro has extremely competitive market.. Average rents in Massachusetts range from $2,500-$3,500+ in Boston area, making tenant screening an important process for landlords protecting their investments and tenants seeking fair treatment in a competitive market. The Housing Court handles summary process (eviction) and most landlord-tenant disputes in Massachusetts. For a deeper understanding of the legal framework, see our guide on landlord-tenant laws explained.

Key aspects of Massachusetts tenant screening law include:

• Application Fees: Application fees BANNED. Not applicable – fees prohibited.
• Source of Income: Protected under state law – landlords cannot discriminate based on vouchers or public assistance
• Criminal Background: No state-specific restrictions beyond federal HUD guidance
• Fair Housing: Federal protections plus state-added classes: Source of income, Receipt of public assistance, Sexual orientation, Gender identity, Marital status, Age, Genetic information, Military status, Veteran status
• Enforcement: Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD)
• Security Deposits: See Massachusetts security deposit laws for deposit limits and return requirements
• Eviction Process: Review Massachusetts eviction notice laws before starting any removal proceedings

📜 Key Massachusetts Statutes

• M.G.L. c. 186 § 15B (Security deposit and fee prohibition)
• M.G.L. c. 151B (Fair Housing)
• M.G.L. c. 93A (Consumer Protection)

💰 Application Fee Regulations in Massachusetts

Massachusetts’s prohibition on application fees represents the strongest tenant protection available regarding screening costs. Landlords must absorb all costs associated with tenant screening, including credit reports, background checks, and administrative processing. This policy aims to reduce barriers to housing access, particularly for low-income renters who might otherwise be deterred from applying to multiple properties due to fee accumulation.

The ban on application fees does not mean landlords cannot screen tenants. Property owners remain free to conduct thorough screening including credit checks, background investigations, rental history verification, and employment confirmation. The prohibition simply shifts the cost burden from prospective tenants to property owners, who can factor these costs into their overall operating expenses.

📋 What Massachusetts Landlords Can and Cannot Charge

• Application Fees — Completely prohibited under state law. Landlords cannot charge any fee for processing applications.
• Screening Fees — Cannot be charged separately or bundled with other fees. All screening costs must be absorbed by the landlord.
• Credit Check Fees — Landlords must pay for all credit reports and cannot pass these costs to applicants.
• Security Deposits — May be collected after approval, subject to state deposit limits.
• First Month’s Rent — May be required at lease signing.
• Last Month’s Rent — May be collected at lease signing in some circumstances.

Tenants in Massachusetts should be aware that while application fees are banned, landlords may still require substantial upfront payments at the time of lease signing. These permitted charges typically include the security deposit (subject to state limits) and potentially first and/or last month’s rent. The key distinction is that no fees can be charged during the application process before a tenant is approved.

🏛️ Source of Income Protections in Massachusetts

M.G.L. c. 151B § 4 prohibits discrimination based on source of income. Strong enforcement through MCAD.

Source of income (SOI) protections represent a critical fair housing safeguard that Massachusetts has recognized at the state level. These protections ensure that tenants who pay their rent with income from sources other than traditional employment—such as housing vouchers, Social Security benefits, disability payments, child support, or retirement income—have equal access to housing opportunities. Without such protections, landlords could refuse qualified tenants simply because of how they receive their income, perpetuating housing discrimination and segregation.

The impact of SOI protections extends beyond individual tenants to entire communities. According to research from the Poverty & Race Research Action Council (PRRAC), approximately 66% of federal Housing Choice Voucher recipients are Black or Latino, 77% of voucher households are female-headed, and 26% include a family member with a disability. SOI discrimination therefore disproportionately affects communities already facing significant barriers to housing access.

🛡️ What’s Protected Under Massachusetts Law

• Housing Choice Vouchers (Section 8) — Federal rental assistance vouchers administered by local housing authorities
• VASH Vouchers — Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing vouchers for homeless veterans
• Social Security — Retirement and disability benefits from the Social Security Administration
• SSI/SSDI — Supplemental Security Income and Social Security Disability Insurance payments
• Child Support/Alimony — Court-ordered support payments
• Unemployment Benefits — State unemployment insurance payments
• Veterans Benefits — VA disability compensation and pension payments
• TANF/Public Assistance — Temporary Assistance for Needy Families and similar programs

🚫 Prohibited Landlord Conduct

Under Massachusetts’s source of income protections, landlords cannot engage in the following discriminatory practices:

• Outright Refusal — Cannot refuse to rent to applicants based on their income source
• Discriminatory Advertising — Cannot advertise “no Section 8” or “no vouchers” or similar exclusionary language
• Different Terms — Cannot offer different rental terms, conditions, or prices based on income source
• Discouragement — Cannot discourage applications from voucher holders or make process more difficult
• Steering — Cannot direct voucher holders to certain units or neighborhoods
• Pretextual Denial — Cannot use legitimate-sounding reasons to mask income source discrimination

🔍 Criminal Background Check Regulations in Massachusetts

No statewide Fair Chance housing law, but CORI reform limits criminal record access. Boston has local provisions.

While Massachusetts has not enacted specific Fair Chance housing legislation, landlords must still comply with federal Fair Housing Act requirements and HUD guidance regarding criminal background screening. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development issued landmark guidance in 2016 establishing that certain criminal history policies may violate the Fair Housing Act due to their disparate impact on protected classes.

⚖️ Federal Requirements Apply

Even without state-specific Fair Chance laws, Massachusetts landlords must adhere to federal standards:

• No Arrest-Only Denials — Cannot deny housing based solely on arrests without convictions under HUD guidance
• No Blanket Bans — Automatic rejection policies for any criminal record likely violate Fair Housing Act
• Individualized Assessment — Should consider nature of offense, time elapsed, and tenant’s circumstances
• Disparate Impact — Policies disproportionately excluding protected groups may be illegal
• Drug Manufacturing — Federal law specifically permits exclusion for drug manufacturing/distribution convictions

📋 Best Practices for Criminal Background Screening

Landlords in Massachusetts should follow these best practices to minimize legal risk while making informed tenant selection decisions:

• Evaluate Financial Qualifications First — Review credit, income, and rental history before criminal background
• Consider Relevance — Focus on offenses that relate to tenancy safety or property protection
• Assess Time Elapsed — Give weight to how long ago the offense occurred and completion of sentence
• Look for Rehabilitation — Consider evidence of changed circumstances and positive steps taken
• Document Reasoning — Keep records of specific, objective factors considered in any denial
• Apply Consistently — Use same criteria for all applicants to avoid discrimination claims

⚖️ Fair Housing Act Compliance in Massachusetts

All tenant screening practices in Massachusetts must comply with the federal Fair Housing Act, which prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex (including sexual orientation and gender identity as of 2021), familial status, and disability. Even facially neutral screening criteria can violate the FHA if they have an unjustified disparate impact on protected classes.

🏠 Federal Protected Classes

🏛️ Additional Massachusetts Protected Classes

Beyond the seven federal protected classes, Massachusetts law provides additional protections for the following characteristics:

These additional state-level protections expand the scope of fair housing law in Massachusetts beyond federal minimums. Landlords must ensure their tenant screening criteria do not discriminate against individuals in any protected class—federal or state—and that seemingly neutral policies do not have an unjustified disparate impact on protected groups.

📋 Screening Criteria Compliance

To ensure Fair Housing compliance in Massachusetts, landlords should:

• Document Criteria in Advance — Establish written, objective screening standards before advertising any unit
• Apply Consistently — Use identical criteria for every applicant for the same property
• Ensure Business Justification — Each criterion should serve a legitimate, non-discriminatory purpose
• Monitor for Disparate Impact — Regularly review whether criteria disproportionately exclude protected groups
• Consider Alternatives — If criteria has disparate impact, evaluate less discriminatory alternatives
• Accommodate Disabilities — Modify criteria when necessary as reasonable accommodation

🎯 Best Practices for Massachusetts Landlords

Successfully navigating Massachusetts’s tenant screening regulations requires landlords to implement consistent, documented processes that satisfy both federal requirements and any state-specific rules. The following best practices will help landlords make informed tenant selection decisions while minimizing legal risk and ensuring fair treatment of all applicants.

📋 Pre-Screening Preparation

• Establish Written Criteria — Before advertising any unit, document your objective screening standards including minimum income requirements (typically 2.5-3x monthly rent), credit score thresholds, rental history requirements, and any other objective factors you will consider
• Research Current Law — Verify current Massachusetts requirements as laws change. Check both state statutes and any applicable local ordinances in your municipality
• Prepare Disclosure Documents — Create written disclosures about application fees, screening criteria, and the application process to provide to prospective tenants before collecting any fees
• Select Compliant Screening Service — Choose a tenant screening provider that follows FCRA requirements and can provide adverse action notices as required

📝 Application Process

• Provide Written Information — Give applicants written disclosure of screening criteria, fee amount, and process before collecting applications or fees
• Obtain Written Consent — Secure applicant’s signed authorization before pulling credit reports or background checks as required by the FCRA
• Collect Proper Fees — Ensure any application fee complies with Massachusetts limits and is properly disclosed
• Apply Standards Consistently — Use identical criteria and process for every applicant to avoid discrimination claims

🔍 Evaluation Process

• Review Financial Qualifications — Verify income, employment, and ability to pay rent before considering other factors
• Check Rental History — Contact previous landlords to verify payment history and lease compliance
• Evaluate Credit Report — Review credit history in context, considering explanations for any issues
• Conduct Background Check — If permitted by timing rules, review criminal history with individualized assessment
• Document Decision — Record specific, objective reasons for approval or denial in writing

📤 Post-Decision Requirements

• Approval Notification — Promptly notify approved applicants and begin lease execution process
• Adverse Action Notice — If denying based on consumer report information, provide required FCRA notice identifying reporting agency and dispute rights
• Fee Handling — Process any required refunds of application fees per Massachusetts law
• Record Retention — Maintain application records, screening reports, and decision documentation for at least three years

👥 Tenant Rights in Massachusetts

Prospective tenants in Massachusetts have significant legal protections during the rental application process under federal fair housing law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act, and applicable state laws. Understanding these rights empowers applicants to identify illegal screening practices and seek recourse when discrimination occurs.

🛡️ Your Federal Rights During Screening

• Equal Treatment — Landlords must apply identical screening criteria to all applicants regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, or disability
• Reasonable Accommodations — If you have a disability, landlords must make reasonable modifications to screening policies when necessary to provide equal housing opportunity
• Adverse Action Notice — If denied based on information in a consumer report (credit check, background check), you must receive written notice identifying the reporting agency and your dispute rights
• Free Credit Report — If denied based on credit report information, you’re entitled to a free copy from the reporting agency within 60 days
• Dispute Rights — You have the right to dispute inaccurate information in screening reports and have errors corrected within 30 days

📋 Massachusetts-Specific Rights

Beyond federal protections, Massachusetts law may provide additional rights during the tenant screening process:

• Application Fee Limits — Application fees BANNED
• Source of Income — Protected – landlords cannot discriminate based on lawful income source
• Criminal History — Follow federal HUD guidance on individualized assessment
• Additional Protected Classes — Source of income, Receipt of public assistance, Sexual orientation, Gender identity, Marital status, Age, Genetic information, Military status, Veteran status

🚨 Signs of Potential Discrimination

Be alert to these warning signs that may indicate discriminatory screening practices:

• Different Treatment — Being quoted different terms, prices, or requirements than other applicants
• Discouraging Comments — Landlord making comments suggesting the unit isn’t suitable for “people like you”
• Sudden Unavailability — Unit mysteriously becomes unavailable after landlord learns protected characteristic
• Excessive Requirements — Being asked for additional documentation or qualifications not required of others
• Steering — Being directed toward specific units or neighborhoods based on your characteristics
• Prohibited Questions — Being asked about national origin, religion, family plans, or disability

📞 What to Do If You Experience Discrimination

• Document Everything — Save all communications, advertisements, applications, and receipts. Record details of verbal interactions immediately
• Request Written Explanation — Ask for written reasons for any denial. Landlords may be required to provide this under FCRA
• File HUD Complaint — Contact HUD at 1-800-669-9777 or file online at hud.gov/fairhousing within one year
• Contact Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) — File state-level complaint for additional investigation and remedies
• Consult Attorney — Fair housing cases may be eligible for attorney fee recovery, making legal help accessible

📚 Related Massachusetts Landlord-Tenant Resources

For a complete understanding of Massachusetts rental law, explore these related guides:

📖 Landlord Guides & Tools

Maximize your screening effectiveness with these resources:

• Step-by-Step Screening — Follow our how to screen a tenant step-by-step for a proven process
• Best Practices — Review best practices for tenant screening for compliant screening
• New Landlords — Start with our first-time landlord screening guide for essential knowledge
• Eviction Prevention — Learn how eviction prevention through better screening saves time and money
• Rental Application — Download our free rental application template for immediate use
• Income Verification — Handle self-employed applicants with our guide on how to verify self-employed income
• Fraud Prevention — Protect yourself by learning how to spot fake pay stubs and how to spot fake landlord references

📊 Massachusetts Rental Market Context

Understanding the broader rental market context helps both landlords and tenants navigate tenant screening in Massachusetts. For landlords new to property management, our how to become a landlord provides essential guidance.

• Population: 7.0 million
• Rental Market: Approximately 38% of households rent. Boston metro has extremely competitive market.
• Average Rents: $2,500-$3,500+ in Boston area
• Court System: Housing Court handles summary process (eviction) and most landlord-tenant disputes
• Regional Comparison: Most protective state in region. More comprehensive than Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Hampshire.
• Eviction Costs: See the cost of eviction by state to understand potential expenses

🆕 Recent Developments in Massachusetts

Recent CORI reform affecting background check access. Ongoing tenant protection debates.

Boston has additional tenant protections. Cambridge, Somerville have local fair housing enforcement.

Stay informed about changes by monitoring Massachusetts’s legislative updates and consulting our tenant screening laws by state for the latest information. Understanding rent increase laws by state is also important for property management planning.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions