Massachusetts rental repairs: landlord will not fix

Do this today

Put the repair request in writing. Date it. Keep a copy.
Photograph the condition, including anything that is unsafe — no heat, no water, mold, pests, broken locks.
Do not withhold rent until you have confirmed that Massachusetts allows a process for it.
Ask the city housing or health department whether they take condition complaints.

What should I put in writing?

What is broken, since when, how it affects living in the unit, and that you are asking for repair. Send it in a way you can prove. Massachusetts estates for years and summary process statutes may require written notice before other remedies exist. A text can help; a dated letter you can produce later is stronger.

Can I withhold rent in ${n}?

Sometimes a state has a lawful process for withholding, escrow, or repair-and-deduct. Sometimes skipping rent is itself grounds for eviction. That split is why this site will not tell you to withhold. Confirm Massachusetts estates for years and summary process statutes or ask legal aid in Massachusetts first.

The Massachusetts chapter

Massachusetts estates for years and summary process statutes (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186; ch. 239) is the starting point. We name it. We do not paraphrase a day-count or a dollar cap out of it.

Massachusetts state law is the floor. Cities may add rent boards, just-cause rules, or extra protected classes. Confirm locally.

Official sources

Common questions

Does Massachusetts require my landlord to make repairs?

Most states impose a duty to keep a rental habitable. The exact list of systems, the notice you must give, and the remedies are in Massachusetts estates for years and summary process statutes. This page tells you what to write down, not which lever to pull.

Can I withhold rent in Massachusetts if nothing is fixed?

Only if Massachusetts law provides a process for it, and only if you follow that process. Ask legal aid before you skip a payment. A wrong withhold can become an eviction case.

Who else can I call in Massachusetts?

City housing or health departments often take condition complaints. 211 can route you. Legal aid is the right call if a notice or a court paper arrived after you complained.

The national repairs guide has the full sequence. Open the repairs guide