What are the laws governing tenant privacy?
In Massachusetts, tenant privacy is governed by the landlord-tenant law. Tenants are entitled to a reasonable amount of privacy in the rented property, and landlords must respect these rights. Generally, landlords may enter a tenant’s living area only to make repairs and inspect the home. In Massachusetts, landlords must give tenants at least 24 hours of advance notice before entering, unless it is an emergency. The Massachusetts tenant privacy law also states that landlords must protect a tenant’s confidential information. This includes bank account numbers, Social Security numbers, and other forms of private information. Landlords may not share, sell, or otherwise disseminate a tenant’s confidential information without the tenant’s written permission. Tenants are also allowed to have guests over in their rented property. Landlords should not interfere with tenants having visitors, and tenants should not be charged additional fees for visitors. However, tenants are responsible for their guests’ actions and behaviors and must make sure their visitors do not cause damage to the property. Massachusetts landlord-tenant law also specifically prohibits landlords from charging tenants for the right to privacy. This means that a landlord cannot add a charge to a tenant’s rent if he or she wants to enjoy the right to privacy in their home. Unreasonable restrictions can be seen as violating a tenant’s right to privacy, so it is important to review the lease agreement before signing.
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