Massachusetts Rental Application (2026)

A landlord's tenant application with lawful screening questions, fee disclosure and FCRA consent, adjusted to your state's rules.

Updated September 2026≈ 10 minReviewed against Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186, § 15B · 15 U.S.C. § 1681m · Mass. Gen. Laws c. 6, § 172; 803 CMR 2.00

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What you'll get

Sample first page of the Rental Application. Your answers fill in the blanks; the clauses required in Massachusetts are added automatically.

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What this document covers

Property, rent and desired move-in date
Application fee within the state cap and receipt
Pre-screening notice where the state requires it
Applicant identity and co-applicants
Residence history for 3 years
Employment and income, including lawful sources
Eviction and bankruptcy questions where allowed
Fair-chance criminal-history rules
Tenant selection criteria and equal-housing statement
FCRA consent and adverse-action notice

Massachusetts rules that this document follows

Application fee limit	ProhibitedSource: Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186, § 15B(1)(b) (landlord may collect only first month's rent, last month's rent, security deposit and lock/key cost; application fees prohibited)
Refund rule	Prohibited; broker fees may be charged only by the party who engaged the broker (St. 2025, c. 6, eff. 8/1/2025)Source: Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186, § 15B(1)(b) (landlord may collect only first month's rent, last month's rent, security deposit and lock/key cost; application fees prohibited)
Must give applicant a copy of screening report	Not required by state law (FCRA adverse-action notice still applies)Source: 15 U.S.C. § 1681m
Criminal-history questions	No fair-chance housing statute, but CORI regulations limit access to and use of criminal records; landlords using CORI must provide the applicant a copy before adverse action and comply with 803 CMR 2.00.Source: Mass. Gen. Laws c. 6, § 172; 803 CMR 2.00
Source of income protected	Yes — vouchers and other lawful income must be consideredSource: Mass. Gen. Laws c. 151B, § 4(10) (public assistance or rental assistance, including Section 8)
Additional protected classes	ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, veteran/military status, receipt of public assistance or housing subsidy
Holding deposit	Not permittedSource: M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b)

Rules current as of 2026-10-27. Statutes change; verify before relying on them.

How to use this Rental Application in Massachusetts

Use one application per adult. Collect the Social Security number only on the signed paper copy, never by email. Apply the same written criteria to every applicant and keep denied applications for at least two years in case of a fair-housing inquiry.

Charge only a fee that Massachusetts permits, give a receipt, and if you deny based on a consumer report send the FCRA adverse-action notice within a few days.

Frequently asked questions

Can a landlord charge an application fee in Massachusetts?

No — Massachusetts prohibits application fees (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b)).

What questions are illegal on a rental application?

You may not ask about race, religion, national origin, sex, familial status or disability, nor about arrests without conviction. Massachusetts adds: ancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, veteran/military status, receipt of public assistance or housing subsidy. This form omits those questions automatically.

Do I have to give the applicant a copy of the screening report?

Federal law requires an adverse-action notice naming the reporting agency; Massachusetts does not separately require a copy of the report.

Other names

tenant application form
apartment application
lease application
rental application form
tenant screening form
renter application
housing application

Other states

FormsByState provides self-help document templates and general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm. For advice about your situation consult a licensed attorney in your state.