Massachusetts security-deposit return deadline
Under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §15B, you have 30 days from move-out. Enter the date the tenant vacated to get your exact deadline.
Deadlines per Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §15B. Massachusetts statutes change; verify with the current statute. Not legal advice.
What Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §15B requires
- Return deadline: 30 days
- Deposit cap: 1 month's rent
- Deposit must sit in a separate interest-bearing Massachusetts bank account; receipt with bank details due within 30 days of taking it; 5% (or actual bank) interest paid yearly and at move-out
- Damage deductions require a sworn itemized list with written cost evidence within the 30 days
- Violations: treble damages plus 5% interest, costs, and attorneys' fees — strictest deposit statute in the US
Statutes as of August 2026. Statutes change — verify with the current text of Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, §15B before relying on a deadline. This is general information, not legal advice; consult a Massachusetts attorney for your situation.
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