How Long Does a Landlord Have to Return a Deposit in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, a landlord has 30 days to return a security deposit. The deadline is measured from this trigger: Termination of tenancy/occupancy (end of the tenant's occupancy). The verified penalty formula is If landlord fails to return the deposit/balance within 30 days of tenancy termination, fails to provide required itemization, fails to pay required 5% annual interest, or otherwise violates §15B's deposit-handling requirements (e.g., commingling, no separate interest-bearing account, no bank transfer statement), the tenant may recover treble (3x) damages equal to three times the deposit or balance wrongfully withheld, PLUS 5% interest from the date payment became due, PLUS court costs and reasonable attorney's fees..
Key facts
| Deadline | 30 days |
|---|---|
| Deadline trigger | Termination of tenancy/occupancy (end of the tenant's occupancy) |
| Penalty formula | If landlord fails to return the deposit/balance within 30 days of tenancy termination, fails to provide required itemization, fails to pay required 5% annual interest, or otherwise violates §15B's deposit-handling requirements (e.g., commingling, no separate interest-bearing account, no bank transfer statement), the tenant may recover treble (3x) damages equal to three times the deposit or balance wrongfully withheld, PLUS 5% interest from the date payment became due, PLUS court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. |
| Bad faith required | No |
| Statute citation | Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B |
Statute says
the lessor shall, within thirty days after the termination of occupancy...return to the tenant the security deposit or any balance thereof... damages in an amount equal to three times the amount of such security deposit or balance thereof...plus interest at the rate of five per cent from the date when such payment became due, together with court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
What this means
Read the deadline, trigger, and penalty together. Match the date you can prove to the trigger above, then compare the landlord's response to the rule in Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B.
FAQ
Does Boston have its own security deposit law?
No separate city security-deposit ordinance is listed in the verified data. Check the applicable Massachusetts law and local rules.
What happens if a landlord misses the Massachusetts deposit deadline?
The verified penalty formula is If landlord fails to return the deposit/balance within 30 days of tenancy termination, fails to provide required itemization, fails to pay required 5% annual interest, or otherwise violates §15B's deposit-handling requirements (e.g., commingling, no separate interest-bearing account, no bank transfer statement), the tenant may recover treble (3x) damages equal to three times the deposit or balance wrongfully withheld, PLUS 5% interest from the date payment became due, PLUS court costs and reasonable attorney's fees.. Keep the move-out date, forwarding address records, and any itemized statement before you act.
Does a demand letter change the legal deadline?
No. The deadline is still 30 days. The deadline trigger is Termination of tenancy/occupancy (end of the tenant's occupancy). A letter documents the timeline and asks the landlord to resolve the deposit before the next step.
If the deadline passed
Send the letter that starts the clock and keeps the demand tied to the verified Massachusetts deadline.
build a Massachusetts demand letter
If the landlord stays silent, review landlord ignoring the deadline before choosing the next step.