If the repair is yours to pay
Get more than one quote before you agree to a price, and ask the contractor to confirm where the property line and the public side begin.
Repair-request & landlord/tenant forms (LawDepot)Templates for a notice to repair, security-deposit demand, and more.
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Default rule and exceptions
Massachusetts landlords must give the tenant a sworn, itemized list of damages within 30 days of the tenancy ending or forfeit the right to keep any of the deposit, and may deduct only a reasonable amount to repair tenant-caused damage, reasonable wear and tear is excluded (Mass. Gen. Laws c.186, §15B(4), (6)).
| Party | What they are responsible for |
|---|---|
| Landlord | Furnish a sworn, itemized list of damages within 30 days of tenancy end, deducting only a reasonable amount for tenant-caused damage, excluding reasonable wear and tear; missing the deadline forfeits any deduction right. |
| Tenant | Is not liable for reasonable wear and tear, only for damage the tenant or their guests caused. |
| Exceptions | None on record |
What the source says
Last verified against the primary source on Sep 19, 2026.
a reasonable amount necessary to repair any damage caused to the dwelling unit by the tenant or any person under the tenant's control or on the premises with the tenant's consent, reasonable wear and tear excluded.
The lessor shall forfeit his right to retain any portion of the security deposit for any reason... if he... fails to furnish to the tenant within thirty days after the termination of the occupancy the itemized list of damages, if any, in compliance with the provisions of this section.
City rules rest on state law. Read Massachusetts's sidewalk statute, quoted verbatim, or see all 50 states in one table.
Common questions
Who pays for security deposit: damage vs wear in Statewide, MA?
Responsibility is shared. Furnish a sworn, itemized list of damages within 30 days of tenancy end, deducting only a reasonable amount for tenant-caused damage, excluding reasonable wear and tear; missing the deadline forfeits any deduction right.
What is this based on for Statewide, MA?
This verdict is sourced to Mass. Gen. Laws c.186 §15B(4) (repair deduction excludes reasonable wear and tear) and 2 sources in total, each independently re-checked before publication.
Sources
- Mass. Gen. Laws c.186 §15B(4) (repair deduction excludes reasonable wear and tear)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
- Mass. Gen. Laws c.186 §15B(6)(b) (30-day itemized-list deadline; forfeiture if missed)statute · verified-primary · accessed 2026-09-13
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