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Massachusetts Pet Addendum

This Massachusetts pet addendum lets a tenant keep named animals on an existing lease. Massachusetts generally caps a security deposit at 1× monthly rent. A pet deposit usually counts toward that cap. Assistance animals required by fair-housing law are not pets and cannot be charged a pet deposit or pet rent. It does not replace the lease, and it does not apply to assistance animals.

• Massachusetts generally treats extra deposits as part of the one-month security deposit under Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B. A separate pet deposit is usually not allowed.
• Unused deposit money is generally due within 30 days (Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, § 15B).
• Assistance animals are not pets. Do not use this addendum to charge a deposit or rent for one.