Tenants Rights and Responsibilities
Massachusetts law prohibits discrimination in housing on the basis of race, religion, national origin, age, ancestry, military background or service, gender, sexual preference, marital status, blindness, deafness, or the need of a guide dog, except owner-occupied two-family dwellings.
What a Landlord Must Provide
The landlord of your apartment must provide you (the tenant) with enough water, with adequate pressure, to meet your ordinary needs. The apartment must also have a heating system in good working order. The kitchen must have a sink of sufficient size and capacity for washing dishes and kitchen utensils, a stove and oven in good repair (unless your written lease requires you to provide your own), and space and proper facilities for the installation of a refrigerator.
The landlord is not required to provide a refrigerator. If a refrigerator is provided, however, the landlord must keep it in working order. The landlord must maintain the apartment free from rodents, cockroaches, and insect infestation, if there are two or more apartments in the building.
Every landlord must maintain the foundation, floors, walls, doors, windows, ceilings, roof, staircases, porches, chimneys, and other structural elements of the building so that it keeps out wind, rain, and snow. The structure must be rodent-proof, weather-tight, watertight, and free from chronic dampness. Every exit used or intended for use by occupants of more than one dwelling unit or rooming unit must be maintained free from obstructions, such as snow.
You have the right to complain or take legal action if any of the above items are violated. If your rights as a tenant have been violated, please see http://www.mass.gov/ago/consumer-resources/consumer-information/home-and-housing/landlord-and-tenant-law/ for more information.
Why a Landlord May Enter Your Apartment
Your landlord, or an agent for your landlord, may only enter your apartment for the following reasons:
- To inspect the premises
- To make repairs
- To show the apartment to a prospective tenant, purchaser, or mortgagee
- In accordance with a court order, if the apartment appears to be abandoned
- To inspect the premises within the last 30 days of tenancy in order to determine the amount of damage, if any, to be deducted from the security deposit
The landlord should be reasonable and attempt to arrange a mutually convenient time to visit the apartment.
Know Your Apartment's History
Many of your landlord's past maintenance records are a matter of public record. If you have questions about work that has been done in the past, your city may have resources like RentSmart Boston which can help.