Living Off Campus: Five Things to Know When Signing a Lease

Are you planning to live off-campus or considering it in the future? Before signing a lease, make sure to review it carefully and get on the same page with your room/housemates. It’s also helpful to know the important laws in Massachusetts that protect renters. This could help you save money, time, and stress! For example:

1. A landlord cannot charge a tenant a late fee unless the rent is more than 30 days past due. (See G.L. c. 186, Section 15B).
2. Tenants who live in buildings with three or more apartments can’t lawfully be charged for trash removal. (See 105 CMR 410.60).
3. Unless specific submeters are installed in your house/apartment by a certified plumber, a tenant cannot lawfully be charged for water. (See 105 CMR 410.354).
4. The amount of your security deposit cannot exceed the first month’s rent, and it must be kept in a separate, interest-earning bank account. (See G.L. c. 186, Section 15B).
5. If you sign a lease with a “joint and several” clause, you are committing yourself to paying the full amount of the lease, even if your room/housemates do not pay their portion.
6. If you signed a lease for an individual room or an entire apartment and were told by your landlord that you would have to live with a roommate, you may have legal claims against them.

Have more legal questions about renting? Contact the Student Legal Services Office at slso@umass.edu or fill out their intake form to get your questions answered for free!