Massachusetts Rental Application Form
As a state, Massachusetts has a lot to offer potential residents. It has strong tech, trade, agriculture, and fishing industries. It also has great healthcare and many outdoor recreational activities. To be approved for a lease, individuals looking to rent residential property in Massachusetts must submit a Massachusetts Rental Application Form.
The standard form is part of the application process as it allows the landlord to do a background check on interested applicants. It includes a credit check and lets landlords look into a person’s eviction or criminal record if there is one.
A rental application form is vital because it helps the landlord find the best tenant for their residential property. It aids the landlord in determining if a prospective tenant can afford to pay rent and if they can pay rent on time. By submitting the application form, the applicant consents to the background check and allows the landlord to contact relevant references.
The tenant should also be aware of their rights based on the Federal Fair Housing Act. According to the Federal Fair Housing Act, landlords cannot reject a rental application based on one’s race, nation of origin, gender, disability, religion, and familial status.
Rental Application Fee
A non-refundable rental application fee usually accompanies a rental application form, but this isn’t the case in Massachusetts. It is illegal for landlords to collect a rental application fee, which typically covers background checks.
Landlords in Massachusetts must, therefore, shoulder the amount out of pocket.
Security Deposits
Landlords in Massachusetts can only charge a maximum security deposit equal to one month’s rent. The tenant technically owns the security deposit, which is why the landlord should deposit the amount in an interest-bearing bank account. The landlord also needs to provide a receipt for the security deposit and inform the tenant where the deposit is being kept and the account number that references it.
Since the security deposit will earn interest, the landlord should give the tenant a 5% interest every year.
The landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit when the tenant moves out of the property. However, the landlord can deduct from the deposit any damages to the apartment or property that is beyond regular wear and tear.
If the tenant fails to pay rent on time, the landlord can also deduct it from the security deposit (Massachusetts General Laws, Part II, Title I, Chapter 186, Section 15B).