Tenvale Blog
Massachusetts Landlord Resources
Plain-English guides to MA landlord-tenant law, compliance traps, and the mechanics of running 3-30 units.
May 31, 2026
Prorated Rent in Massachusetts: How to Calculate It (2026 Guide)
How prorated rent works in Massachusetts: the 30-day vs actual-days methods, what MGL c.186 §12, §13, and the lease each control, plus move-in and move-out examples.
May 31, 2026
Boston Rental Registration: The 2026 Landlord Checklist
Boston rental registration checklist for landlords: who must register, the annual deadline, fees, the 5-year inspection, penalties, and how to file with ISD.
May 28, 2026
MA Late Fee Rules for Landlords: The 2026 Compliance Guide
What MA landlords can and can't charge for late rent — the 30-day rule under G.L. c.186 §15B(1)(c), the discount-clause trap, and how late fees interact with eviction and the security deposit.
May 27, 2026
When a Massachusetts Tenant Stops Paying Rent: What the Law Actually Says (2026)
What MA law says about nonpayment, summary process under G.L. c.239, the statutory notice, and why landlords almost always need an attorney for evictions.
May 27, 2026
Tenant Screening Without Paying $50 Per Applicant: A Small Landlord Toolkit
Free and low-cost tenant-screening methods for owner-operator landlords: tenant-pulled credit, income verification, references, and fair-housing basics.
May 27, 2026
Massachusetts Security Deposit Interest: How to Calculate and Pay It Correctly (2026)
How MA landlords actually compute the interest owed on a security deposit under MGL c.186 §15B(3)(b), with worked examples and the deduct-from-rent rule.
May 27, 2026
Lease Renewal vs. Month-to-Month in Massachusetts: Rent Increases, Notice Periods, and What Your Lease Should Say
How MA law treats fixed-term leases vs. tenancies at will: the notice rules, the rent-increase mechanics, the retaliation traps, and what to put in your renewal letter.
May 27, 2026
ACH vs Credit Card for Rent Collection: Which Is Better for Landlords?
Honest fee math, settlement timing, and risk profile of ACH vs credit card rent collection — and how to decide which makes sense for a small landlord.
May 26, 2026
Massachusetts Security Deposit Law for Landlords: The 2026 Compliance Guide
Plain-English walkthrough of MGL c.186 §15B for MA landlords — what you can collect, the 30-day clocks, the interest rules, and which violations actually trigger triple damages.