An Act to reduce the financial barriers to renting homes

This bill amends Massachusetts law to limit the upfront costs landlords can charge tenants when starting a lease. It directly affects both property owners and renters by restricting the total amount a tenant must pay before moving in. Specifically, the law allows landlords to collect only one month's rent as a security deposit, one month's rent as the first month's payment, and the cost of a new key and lock. This change aims to make renting more affordable by preventing landlords from requiring excessive initial payments beyond these specific limits.