Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in Massachusetts

Tenant's Guest Rights

Can I as a landlord restrict which guests my tenant allows to visit? This tenant is a ''tenant-at-will'' (no lease). They have a guest that visits regularly that I do not want to enter my property. As a landlord do I have the right to not allow this guest to enter the premises? Can the police or any local authorities legally force you to let this person enter the property?


Asked on 11/10/04, 10:28 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
David Baker Law Office of David Baker

Re: Tenant's Guest Rights

NO. When you lease property (whether by oral or written lease), you grant the tenant the right to possess and use the property in any manner he/she sees fit so long as that usage does not violate the law. Furthermore, there is a freedom of association, often referred to as a constitutional right, which would prevent you from interfering with the tenant's right to associate with whomever he/she wishes, again so long as no law is violated. If the guest damages the property or assaults another tenant, that's a different matter. But short of that, NO. David Baker

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Answered on 11/11/04, 1:51 pm


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