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A Massachusetts Rental Application Form is a screening tool you use to gather details from potential tenants before leasing. It covers personal, financial, and employment info. The form helps you assess eligibility. It also allows you to follow state and federal laws on discrimination and applicant consent.
Last Update April 21st, 2026
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A Massachusetts rental application is a legal document used by landlords and property managers to assess and choose an appropriate tenant for a rental property.
There are two main types of rental applications in Massachusetts. You must select the most relevant one depending on the type of property being rented, local laws, and the type of leasing agreement that will be used.
| Standard/General Rental Application | Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Rental Application | |
|---|---|---|
| Which landlords can use it? | Private landlords | Landlords with Section 8 housing |
| What kind of tenants is it designed for? | Any | Tenants eligible for subsidized housing |
Looking over a readily prepared template of a rental application can make it much easier to create your own. Review our document sample below to get more familiar with what your application form will look like when it’s completed.
When you fill in a simple Rental Application form for Massachusetts you’ll need to ask for some crucial details from the tenant to make the vetting process as effective as possible.
| Data the Tenant Can Be Asked for | Essential Disclosures from the Landlord |
|---|---|
| Personal data | The property’s condition |
| Rental history | Potential hazards to the tenant |
| Employment details | Shared utility arrangements |
| Income information | Rent control rules |
| Credit history | Smoking policy |
| Personal references | The security deposit |
| Permission for background checks | Associated fees |
The information offered by either the landlord or tenant will vary from application to application. However, it is vitally important that both sides get the clearest picture possible about the nature of the lease before signing an agreement.
Massachusetts has many rules and statutes regulating its housing market. These must be fully considered when preparing an application for rental properties in the state.
A landlord in Massachusetts is not permitted to charge an application fee.
On the other hand, in compliance with § 254 CMR 7.00(1), real estate brokers and agents are permitted to charge a fee for rental applications (Section 15B(1)(b)).
Landlords in Massachusetts can charge up to the cost of one month's rent for security deposits (Section 15B(1)(b)(iii)).
You are required to put the deposit in a separate interest-bearing account in a bank found in Massachusetts.
Under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 151B, it is illegal to discriminate in housing based on several protected classes. Massachusetts law is actually broader than the federal Fair Housing Act (FHA), protecting additional characteristics:
Research into the Boston area has highlighted significant disparities in the housing market. For instance, a Federal Reserve Bank of Boston report found that 70% of voucher holders reported experiencing discrimination. Among Black applicants, 80% reported issues with landlords refusing vouchers, compared to 57% for other racial groups. Additionally, while the white homeownership rate in Massachusetts is approximately 70.4%, it is significantly lower for Black (38.6%) and Hispanic (31.6%) residents.
Potential tenants must be informed about the screening criteria and reasons for denial or approval. To prove that these facts were shared, a signature of acknowledgment must be provided within the application or alongside it.
The Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) stipulates that potential tenants must agree to any credit checks you require to assess their suitability. To show they consent, they must provide written acknowledgment on the application form.
There are various other legal documents that landlords must take into account when considering new tenants. Get expert guidance on preparing other personalized property forms with our other printable templates for the following legal forms:
Understanding what your Massachusetts rental application can and cannot do is vital before you create your own from scratch. Find out more about how these screening documents work and what you need to know when writing them.
A Massachusetts rental application gives you the opportunity to learn more about your tenant before committing to a legal contract with them. You collect data to:
A credit reference is a document that provides information on the credit history of an applicant for a rental property. This may be requested on Massachusetts rental applications so that landlords can properly assess whether a potential tenant will be able to meet the rental payment schedule.
A Massachusetts Rental Application typically doesn’t require a Social Security number (SSN), unless you’re running a background check.
If requested, landlords must get written consent and disclose how the SSN will be handled.
Many screening services now collect SSNs securely by email, but tenant permission is always required before running any checks.
