Looking for an Apartment

Inspection

• Never let the landlord or rental agent rush you when you are looking at apartments.
• Carefully inspect the apartment.
• Don't be scared to ask questions. After all, this could be your new home!
• Talk with others that live in the building or neighborhood. This will help to give you an idea of what the landlord and area are like.
• Make sure that you read over any and all agreements before you sign them.
• If there are repairs that need to be made, make a list of the problems and get the landlord to agree to them in writing.

Discrimination

• A landlord or rental agent may not refuse to show or rent any apartment to you because of your race, color, religion, sex, age, ancestry, disability (mental or physical), marital status, sexual preference or because you receive public assistance, are a veteran or are in the armed forces.
• Discrimination against families with children is also illegal.
• Note: Landlords in two-family, owner-occupied buildings are exempt from most of these laws.
• Many landlords believe that if the apartment has lead paint they can refuse to rent to families with children under the age of six. This is not so. The landlord must remove the lead paint.
• If you feel that you have been discriminated against, you should file a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination as soon as possible. If the apartment is still available, MCAD may be able to help you get in.
• It is also illegal for a landlord to refuse to accept Section 8 or Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program (MRVP) tenants. MGL ch. 151B; MGL CH.111 sec.197.