Massachusetts Rental Application

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

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Massachusetts rules that this document follows

Application fee limit$0.00 maximumSource: 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 ruleProhibited; 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 reportNot required by state law (FCRA adverse-action notice still applies)Source: 15 U.S.C. § 1681m
Criminal-history questionsNo 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 protectedYes — 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 classesancestry, age, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, veteran/military status, receipt of public assistance or housing subsidy
Holding depositNot permitted as a separate charge; any pre-tenancy payment must be first month's rent, last month's rent or security deposit (Mass. Gen. Laws c. 186, § 15B(1)(b))

Rules current as of 2026-09-07. 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?

Yes, up to $0.00 (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)).

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.

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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.