Guides

Plain-English references for the lease and compliance questions hands-on rental owners actually hit. Each guide describes the same checks Leasella runs on real leases.

• Massachusetts Security Deposit Law: What Landlords Must Get Right

  M.G.L. c. 186 §15B in plain English: the one-month cap, the separate escrow account, annual interest, allowed deductions, the 30-day return — and what it costs to get wrong.

  7 min read

• Late Fees in Massachusetts Leases: the 30-Day Rule Most Boilerplate Gets Wrong

  Under M.G.L. c. 186 §15B, a Massachusetts late fee cannot kick in until rent is 30 days overdue. Day-5 late fee clauses from out-of-state templates are generally unenforceable.

  5 min read

• Lead Paint Paperwork for Massachusetts Rentals: Federal + State in One Form

  Pre-1978 rentals need lead disclosures twice over — the federal Lead Disclosure Rule and the MA Tenant Lead Law Notification (105 CMR 460). The MA combined form covers both.

  6 min read

• How to Reconcile Your Leases Against Your Bank Statements: a Working Checklist

  The step-by-step method for checking what your leases say you should collect against what your bank statements say you did — and the gaps that usually turn up.

  6 min read

• New York Security Deposit and Late Fee Rules: the Numbers the 2019 Law Fixed

  Since the HSTPA: deposits capped at one month (GOL §7-108), returned itemized within 14 days, and late fees capped at the lesser of $50 or 5% after a 5-day grace (RPL §238-a).

  6 min read

• California Security Deposit and Late Fee Rules After AB 12

  Since July 2024, CA deposits are capped at one month (Civil Code §1950.5, narrow small-owner exception) and returned itemized in 21 days; late fees answer to §1671.

  6 min read