When your landlord takes your security deposit, the law requires that they give you a written receipt.  The law further requires that, within 30 days of receiving the deposit, your landlord place the security deposit in an appropriately designated escrow account which is both within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and outside the reach of the landlord’s creditors. Your landlord must then give you a second receipt showing the amount of the deposit, your landlord’s name, the address of the premises, and the name of the bank and the account number where it is being held.

Within ten days of accepting the security deposit or your taking possession of the property, whichever is later, your landlord must provide to you a document called a “statement of condition.” The statement of condition must be signed by your landlord and list all damage existing in the rental unit. If your landlord does not give you such a form, you should fill one out anyway and return it to the landlord within the first few weeks of your tenancy.

If your landlord failed to handle your security deposit properly, you may be entitled to the immediate return of your deposit. If you believe your landlord has mishandled your deposit, please submit an intake form to request services from SLSO.