LandlordDates
Not legal advice. This is a free reference compiled from official government sources. Laws change and local details matter. Confirm every deadline with the official source or a licensed attorney before you rely on it.

Last verified: · Confidence: medium

Cambridge, MA landlord deadlines

City rules for Cambridge, which add to Massachusetts statewide rules and federal rules. Official site: cambridgema.gov.

Build a dated calendar for Cambridge

Local rules (Cambridge)

Give the City's Tenants' Rights and Resources Guide at the start of a tenancy Verified

Deadline: When the lease starts

Provide the City's tenant rights and resources guide when a new tenant signs a lease, enters a tenancy, or pays the first month's rent. Not required at renewals.

Applies to: any number of units · Layer: Cambridge, MA · Topic: Required tenant notices

Who it covers: All residential rental units incl. tenants at will; exempt: short-term rental units and certain health/treatment facilities. Penalty up to $300 per day.

"For new tenancies, the Guide must be provided when a tenant signs a lease or enters into a tenancy agreement for the first time or tenders the first month’s rent."
cambridgema.gov
"you are not required to offer materials at each renewal."
cambridgema.gov

Notes: Cambridge Municipal Code Ch. 8.71 (Tenants' Rights and Resources Notification Ordinance); ordinance text not snapshotted. Adds to MA state law. Topic is the closest match (event-based notice, not annual).

Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction

Give the Guide when taking legal steps to end a tenancy (notice to quit / summary process) Verified

Deadline: With a notice to quit or when starting summary process

When serving a notice to quit or starting an eviction case, also give the tenant the City's rights and resources guide.

Applies to: any number of units · Layer: Cambridge, MA · Topic: Non-renewal and termination notice

Who it covers: All residential rental units incl. tenants at will; exempt: short-term rental units and certain health/treatment facilities. Penalty up to $300 per day.

"The Ordinance also requires that a landlord provide the Guide to tenants when legal steps to terminate a tenancy are taken (ex. Notice to Quit or Summary Process)."
cambridgema.gov

Notes: A 2024 amendment (Ord. 2024-3) reportedly adds a 30-day pre-summary-process notice for non-renewals; not snapshotted, so not modeled.

Last verified 2026-10-20 · Confidence: medium · Status: verified · Report a correction

Massachusetts statewide rules that also apply

Massachusetts statewide rules
RuleDeadlineConfidence
Return deposit (with interest) within 30 days after tenancy ends; sworn itemized damages listWithin 30 days after move-outhigh
Bank receipt (bank name/location, amount, account number) within 30 days of depositWithin 30 days after the lease startshigh
Signed receipt for security deposit at the time it is receivedAt the time the security deposit is receivedhigh
Statement of condition of premises within 10 days of tenancy start (if deposit taken)Within 10 days after the lease startshigh
Annual deposit interest (5% or bank rate) and statement at end of each tenancy yearEach year on the lease anniversaryhigh
Interest and annual statement on prepaid last month's rentEach year on the lease anniversaryhigh
Check city/town for rental registration or pre-rental inspection (smoke/CO)Ongoing requirement with no fixed datemedium
Delead or contain lead hazards when a child under 6 lives in the unitWhen a child under 6 resides in the unit (new owners: within 90 days of change of ownership)high
Tenant Lead Law Notification and lead records before renting (pre-1978)Prior to entering into a tenancy agreementhigh
Rent increase for tenant at will uses the same termination-notice periodAt least 30 days before the rent increase takes effectmedium
Notice to end (or change terms of) a tenancy at will: rental period or 30 days, whichever is longerAt least one full rental period or 30 days before the tenancy ends, whichever is longer (dated 31 days ahead to cover a full monthly rent period; three months' notice if rent is paid less often than every three months)high
Entry by advance arrangement for listed purposes (no fixed notice period)Ongoing requirement with no fixed datehigh

Federal rules that also apply

Federal rules (all states)
RuleDeadlineConfidence
Lead-based paint disclosure and EPA pamphlet before lease signing (pre-1978 housing)Before the tenant is obligated under the lease (before signing / before accepting an offer to lease)high
Signed lead disclosure attachment with lease; keep for 3 yearsKeep the signed disclosure for at least 3 years from the lease start; the date shown is the earliest you may discard ithigh
Report rental income/expenses on Schedule E with Form 1040Due April 15, 2027 with your 2026 Form 1040; if that falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the next business daymedium
2026 estimated tax payment #1 due April 15, 2026Due April 15, 2026high
2026 estimated tax payment #2 due June 15, 2026Due June 15, 2026high
2026 estimated tax payment #3 due Sept. 15, 2026Due September 15, 2026high
2026 estimated tax payment #4 due Jan. 15, 2027Due January 15, 2027high
File and furnish Form 1099-NEC for 2026 contractor payments of $2,000+Due January 31, 2027 (for 2026 payments); if that falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the next business dayhigh

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