Massachusetts Law
Rinaldi Pease Companies LLC and its affiliates comply with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, rules, and regulations.
In Massachusetts, the standards for housing are set by chapter two of the State Sanitary Code, as provided by the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, Title 105, Section 410 (105 C.M.R. §410).
The following two documents are required disclosures by Landlords in Massachusetts:
The following two documents are required to be posted by real estate offices in Massachusetts:
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 186, Section 15B, Subsection 1 states:
(b) At or prior to the commencement of any tenancy, no lessor may require a tenant or prospective tenant to pay any amount in excess of the following:
- (i) rent for the first full month of occupancy; and,
- (ii) rent for the last full month of occupancy calculated at the same rate as the first month; and,
- (iii) a security deposit equal to the first month's rent provided that such security deposit is deposited as required by subsection (3) and that the tenant is given the statement of condition as required by subsection (2); and,
- (iv) the purchase and installation cost for a key and lock.
(c) No lease or other rental agreement shall impose any interest or penalty for failure to pay rent until thirty days after such rent shall have been due.
Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 151B, Section 4 states:
It shall be an unlawful practice:
[Subsection 6a] To refuse to rent or lease or sell or negotiate for sale (or to discriminate against, inst. §b) or otherwise to deny to or withhold from any person or group of persons such accommodations because of the race, religious creed, color, national origin, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, which shall not include persons whose sexual orientation involves minor children as the sex object, age, genetic information, ancestry, or marital status of such person or persons or because such person is a veteran or member of the armed forces, or because such person is blind, or hearing impaired or has any other handicap
[Subsection 10] For any person furnishing credit, services or rental accommodations to discriminate against any individual who is a recipient of federal, state, or local public assistance, including medical assistance, or who is a tenant receiving federal, state, or local housing subsidies, including rental assistance or rental supplements, because the individual is such a recipient, or because of any requirement of such public assistance, rental assistance, or housing subsidy program.
Only licensed Real Estate Brokers and Salespeople may charge broker or applications fees, as provided by the Code of Massachusetts Regulations, Title 254, Section 7 (254 C.M.R. §7).
Massachusetts law also permits a landlord to require that a tenant carry Renters' Insurance, see Peterson vs. Silva, 428 Mass. 751 and Gardner v. Simpson Fin. Ltd., 963 F. Supp. 2d 72
Availability Disclosure: "The apartment[s] advertised may no longer be available for rental.” (254 C.M.R. §7.02(c))
Equal Housing Opportunity Statement: “We are pledged to the letter and spirit of U.S. policy for the achievement of equal housing opportunity throughout the Nation. We encourage and support an affirmative advertising and marketing program in which there are no barriers to obtaining housing because of race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.”
(Title 24, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 200, Subpart M)
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