sublease fees

[db008]

Is a landlord in Massachusetts allowed to charge a "subleasing fee", and if so is there any amount limit?

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

What does this "subleasing fee" entail?

Gail

 

[db008]

The landlord wants to charge one month's rent as a "convenience fee" for allowing me to sublet the unit.

 

[Gail_in_Georgia]

Massachusetts tends to be a very tenant friendly state. While many states allow the landlord to disagree with subletting, in this state a landlord cannot "unreasonably withhold" permission to do so. Your landlord may try to get around this by adding this fee to discourage subleasing.

I could not find any law in this state that prohibited a landlord from adding this fee; however, there may be specific restrictions depending on the district this rental is in.

Gail