Can't Pay Rent in Massachusetts: What Are My Options?
If you cannot pay your rent in Massachusetts, you have options before things get worse. This page covers talking to your landlord, late fees, and rental assistance (money to help pay rent) that can help you catch up. If you already received a notice to quit or court papers, see our eviction guide for those next steps.
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Contact your landlord in writing as soon as you know you will miss a rent payment or pay late. Explain what happened and ask if your landlord will agree to a payment plan. Keep a copy of what you send. A written record can help you later if there is ever a disagreement about what you asked for or when.
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If you can only pay part of your rent, tell your landlord in writing how much you can pay now. Say when you plan to pay the rest. Ask for a receipt each time you pay part of your rent. If you pay by check, write on it what the payment covers, and keep a copy for your own records.
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You and your landlord can use free mediation to work out a payment plan instead of going to court. Mediation means a neutral person helps you and your landlord find a solution based on what matters to you both. It is confidential and voluntary. Massachusetts Community Mediation Centers offer this service for free.
✓ Sources checked September 24, 2026
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Massachusetts law gives you 30 days after your rent is due before your landlord can charge a late fee or interest. This 30-day period starts on the date rent was due under your lease.
✓ Sources checked September 24, 2026
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Your landlord can only charge a late fee if your lease or rental agreement allows it in writing. This is sometimes called a late payment penalty clause. Without that clause in writing, your landlord cannot charge you a late fee, no matter how late you pay your rent.
✓ Sources checked September 24, 2026
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Massachusetts runs a rental assistance (money to help pay rent) program called RAFT, which stands for Residential Assistance for Families in Transition. It can pay up to $7,000 in a 12-month period. You can use the money for rent, utilities (water, electric, gas), moving costs, or a mortgage payment.
✓ Sources checked September 24, 2026
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You may qualify for RAFT if you are at risk of losing your home. This includes getting a notice to quit (a letter saying you must move out) or an eviction notice. It also includes a notice that your utilities (water, electric, gas) will be shut off.
✓ Sources checked September 24, 2026
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You can apply for RAFT online through the state's Housing Help Hub. This is also where you check the status of an application you already submitted. The RAFT application takes 20 to 30 minutes to complete.
✓ Sources checked September 24, 2026
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After you apply for RAFT, tell your landlord or property manager as soon as possible. Your landlord will also need to fill out their own application before you can get any money. If your landlord does not submit it within 21 days, your application times out and you will have to apply again.
✓ Sources checked September 24, 2026
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Keep every receipt, text message, and letter about your rent payments and any conversations with your landlord. This proof can help you later if there is ever a disagreement about what you paid or when you paid it.
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Even if you fall behind on rent, your landlord cannot legally make you move out without going to court first. Your landlord cannot physically remove you or your belongings, and cannot change your locks, to try to force you out.
✓ Sources checked September 24, 2026
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Your landlord may send you a notice to quit (a letter saying you must move out) or start a court case for unpaid rent. That is a separate process, with its own deadlines and ways to respond. See our guide on facing eviction for what to do next.
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