Landlord Won't Make Repairs in Boston: What Can I Do?
Your landlord must keep your home safe and in good repair. The State Sanitary Code sets the minimum standards. This page lists your rights and what you can do if your landlord does not provide a safe living space.
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Your landlord must give you a home that is safe, well maintained, and follows the Massachusetts Sanitary Code. The State Sanitary Code sets the minimum standards for a home that is fit to live in.
✓ Sources checked September 12, 2026
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Your landlord must keep your home fit to live in the whole time you rent it. This right covers everyone living there, not just the person who signed the lease. This rule is implicit and defined as the "Warrant of Habitability."
✓ Sources checked September 12, 2026
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Tell your landlord about the problem first so they know what is wrong and can fix it. Give the landlord a reasonable amount of time to make repairs. If they do not comply, you can ask an inspector from the local board of health to come and look. The inspector can order your landlord to fix anything that breaks the Sanitary Code. One caution from legal aid: for very bad conditions, an inspector can condemn the home and make everyone leave.
✓ Sources checked September 12, 2026
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If you can afford it, you can pay a private home inspector to check the problems. This can be expensive. Their written report and photos can help show the conditions in court. A private inspector only documents the problems for you. To find one near you, search for "home inspector" or "rental inspection" with your city's name.
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Your lease cannot make you pay to repair normal wear and tear. Your landlord cannot punish you for reporting Sanitary Code problems to the government. Your lease cannot stop you from suing your landlord or reporting Sanitary Code problems.
✓ Sources checked September 12, 2026
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You may be able to hold back part of your rent or move out of the landlord does not make the leased property habitable, even if you signed a lease. Talk to a lawyer or legal services before you do either one.
✓ Sources checked September 12, 2026
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