Landlord kept your deposit in Massachusetts? Find your next step.
No refund, only part of your money back, or charges you disagree with? Start with what you received, then build a response using your records and Massachusetts law.
Analysis free · Full case package $29-$49, one time · mailing optional
The deadline check is optional. See what you get
What do you need help with?
Open the situation that fits. Each route gives you something to check, something to keep, and a next step.
I received nothingNo refund and no list of deductions.
Check the trigger, then the date. 30 days after termination of occupancy - the deposit or balance must come back with interest (G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4)).
Keep: your deposit payment, move-out or key-return record, forwarding-address notice and any earlier written request. These establish the timeline behind your demand.
Analyze my missing refund - free →I received part of my depositSome money came back. Find out what explains the difference.
Reconcile the refund. Compare the original deposit, what was returned and each deduction. Separate charges you accept from charges you dispute.
Check the amount they kept - free →Enter the refund and deductions in the case builder. You do not need a separate worksheet first.
The Massachusetts accounting rule: To deduct for damage, the landlord must provide within 30 days an itemized list of damages sworn to under the pains and penalties of perjury, describing the damage and necessary repairs in precise detail (§ 15B(4)(iii)); damage already on the move-in Statement of Condition can't be deducted.
Check interest too. Deposits held 1+ year earn 5% a year or the bank's actual rate; interest is due annually and at return (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 § 15B(3)(b)).
Keep: the refund record, deduction list and notice envelope or delivery record. If money is still unexplained, identify that gap in your written request.
I disagree with the deductionsYou have a charge list, whether or not a refund arrived.
Respond to the specific charges. Note each amount, why you dispute it, and which photo, message or record supports your position. Check the notice instructions above before choosing how and when to reply.
Check my deductions - free →The records rule in Massachusetts: The sworn list must be accompanied by written evidence - estimates, bills, invoices, or receipts - showing the actual or estimated repair cost (§ 15B(4)(iii)); undocumented costs cannot be deducted.
No move-in photos? Use an inventory checklist, inspection report, dated repair request, messages or witness accounts to explain the condition.
I already sent a demandThe landlord has not paid, or the dispute is still unresolved.
Keep the sworn statement and supporting documents together. Separate questions about the accounting from disputes about the actual condition of the unit.
See the Massachusetts court route →Keep: your sent demand, delivery record and any reply. Use the court guide to check where to file, which forms to use, and the filing and service costs.
Turn the dispute into a documented demand
- Free: understand your dispute
- Add your refund, charges and records. Get a charge-by-charge analysis of the deposit rules and potential remedies under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B.
- Optional: your case documents, $29-$49
- Your demand letter, damages summary and evidence checklist, ready to review and send with your records. Mailing is optional and costs extra.
One charge, backed by a reason and records
Fictional Massachusetts example. Assumes coverage under the cited law; not a customer outcome.
- The charge
- Repainting ordinary wall scuffs: $900
- Records to attach
- move-in photos and move-out photos
Open PDF ↗In the generated letter
Ordinary wear and tear - not deductible. Repainting after a tenancy is ordinary wear and tear unless the walls were damaged beyond normal use (large holes, unauthorized colors). Dated move-in and move-out photos help distinguish ordinary wear from tenant-caused damage.
Prefer to write it yourself? Use the free Massachusetts letter template.
Before you call the refund late
30 days after termination of occupancy - the deposit or balance must come back with interest (G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4)).
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B ↗Deposit statute reviewed August 2026. Review dates refer to the cited rules.
Check the return timeline
Optional date estimate. Read the start conditions above; a passed date alone does not establish a violation. Your date and deposit amount carry into the free analysis.
Already know the dates? Go straight to the refund and charges.
Continue to my free analysis →Questions before your next step
What should I do first if my landlord kept my deposit in Massachusetts?
Check the statutory deadline. 30 days after termination of occupancy - the deposit or balance must come back with interest (G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4)). Save your move-out records, any refund and the itemized statement. Compare them with the deadline and deduction rules below.
Do I need a lawyer to get my deposit back in Massachusetts?
You can write a demand yourself. If you consider a court claim, small claims court (limit: $7,000) is designed for self-represented tenants - filing fees run $40-$150 depending on claim size.
What happens if my landlord doesn't return my security deposit in 30 days in Massachusetts?
Missing the 30-day sworn itemized list, mishandling the escrow account, or failing to return the balance forfeits the right to retain any portion of the deposit and to counterclaim for damage (§ 15B(6)).
Am I owed interest on my deposit in Massachusetts?
In at least some cases, yes. Deposits held 1+ year earn 5% a year or the bank's actual rate; interest is due annually and at return (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186 § 15B(3)(b)).
What can I ask to recover in a Massachusetts deposit dispute?
For failing to return the deposit within 30 days, keep it in a separate interest-bearing Massachusetts bank account, or transfer it to a successor owner, the tenant shall be awarded three times the amount due plus 5% interest, court costs, and attorney's fees (§ 15B(7)) - the treble award is mandatory. One of the strongest tenant statutes in the country.
Read the full Massachusetts deposit-law guide for the return, deduction and remedy rules.