Move-Out and Move-In Cleaning in Massachusetts
What the security deposit law says, and a checklist for both ends of your move.
Independent guide: this website is not Mid-Cambridge Cleaners or any other cleaning company. We do not offer cleaning services, take bookings or give quotes. This page is general information, not legal advice.
Security deposits: the key rules
Massachusetts has some of the strongest security deposit protections in the country. According to the state’s guidance (Mass.gov: Security deposits and last month’s rent):
- A landlord cannot ask for a security deposit of more than one month’s rent.
- The landlord must keep the deposit in a separate, interest-bearing account in a Massachusetts bank.
- The landlord must return the deposit, with interest, within 30 days after the tenancy ends.
- To keep part of it for damage, the landlord must give you a written, itemized list of the damage and the repair costs within those 30 days.
- Normal wear and tear, such as scuffs on walls or thinning carpet, cannot be deducted.
In August 2025, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled in Peebles v. JRK Property Holdings that landlords may not deduct cleaning fees from a tenant’s security deposit. Leaving the apartment reasonably clean is still good practice, and it helps you avoid disputes.
When you move in
Your landlord should give you a written statement of the apartment’s condition. You then have 15 days to add any problems you find. Take dated photos or a video of every room, including floors, walls, appliances and windows, and keep them with your lease.
Move-out cleaning checklist
- Kitchen: empty and wipe the fridge and freezer, clean the stovetop and oven, wipe cabinets inside and out, clean the sink.
- Bathroom: clean the toilet, tub or shower, sink, mirror and floor; remove hair from drains.
- Every room: remove all belongings and trash, sweep and vacuum, wipe sills, baseboards and light switches.
- Before you hand over the keys: take dated photos of every room and give your landlord a forwarding address in writing.
Move-in cleaning checklist
- Wipe the inside of cabinets and drawers before unpacking.
- Clean the fridge and run an empty cycle in the dishwasher if there is one.
- Clean the bathroom thoroughly and replace the shower curtain liner.
- Check smoke and carbon monoxide alarms and tell your landlord if any are missing or not working.
For full details of your rights, read the Attorney General’s Guide to Landlord and Tenant Rights.