{
    "dataset": "Homzora Boston Move-In Cost 2026",
    "period": "2026",
    "basis": "Derived from Homzora published Boston rent ranges. Shows the statutory maximum a Massachusetts landlord may collect at lease signing.",
    "legal_basis": "M.G.L. c.186 s.15B permits first month, last month, a security deposit not exceeding one month rent, and the actual cost of a lock and key. No other upfront charge is permitted, and pet deposits are not lawful in Massachusetts.",
    "note": "These are lawful maximums, not typical amounts. Many landlords collect less. Broker fees are governed separately: since 2025 the party who hires the broker pays the fee.",
    "license": "CC BY 4.0 - cite Homzora Housing Intelligence with a link to https://homzorarealty.com/data/",
    "methodology": "https://homzorarealty.com/boston-renter-survey-methodology/",
    "source_dataset": "homzora-boston-rent-2026.json",
    "rows": [
        {
            "area": "Downtown Boston and Seaport District",
            "unit_type": "1br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 3800,
            "first_month_usd": 3800,
            "last_month_usd": 3800,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 3800,
            "statutory_max_usd": 11400,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 9300,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 13500,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Back Bay and Beacon Hill",
            "unit_type": "1br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 3450,
            "first_month_usd": 3450,
            "last_month_usd": 3450,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 3450,
            "statutory_max_usd": 10350,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 8700,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 12000,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "South End",
            "unit_type": "1br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 3000,
            "first_month_usd": 3000,
            "last_month_usd": 3000,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 3000,
            "statutory_max_usd": 9000,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 7500,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 10500,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Charlestown and Somerville-adjacent",
            "unit_type": "1br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2800,
            "first_month_usd": 2800,
            "last_month_usd": 2800,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2800,
            "statutory_max_usd": 8400,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 7200,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 9600,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Allston Brighton and Mission Hill",
            "unit_type": "1br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2300,
            "first_month_usd": 2300,
            "last_month_usd": 2300,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2300,
            "statutory_max_usd": 6900,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 5700,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 8100,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Jamaica Plain",
            "unit_type": "1br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2200,
            "first_month_usd": 2200,
            "last_month_usd": 2200,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2200,
            "statutory_max_usd": 6600,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 5400,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 7800,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Roxbury",
            "unit_type": "1br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2050,
            "first_month_usd": 2050,
            "last_month_usd": 2050,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2050,
            "statutory_max_usd": 6150,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 5100,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 7200,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Roslindale and West Roxbury",
            "unit_type": "1br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 1900,
            "first_month_usd": 1900,
            "last_month_usd": 1900,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 1900,
            "statutory_max_usd": 5700,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 4800,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 6600,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Back Bay and Beacon Hill",
            "unit_type": "2br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 4750,
            "first_month_usd": 4750,
            "last_month_usd": 4750,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 4750,
            "statutory_max_usd": 14250,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 12000,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 16500,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Downtown Boston and Seaport District",
            "unit_type": "2br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 4600,
            "first_month_usd": 4600,
            "last_month_usd": 4600,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 4600,
            "statutory_max_usd": 13800,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 12600,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 15000,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "South End",
            "unit_type": "2br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 4000,
            "first_month_usd": 4000,
            "last_month_usd": 4000,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 4000,
            "statutory_max_usd": 12000,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 9600,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 14400,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Charlestown and Somerville-adjacent",
            "unit_type": "2br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 3600,
            "first_month_usd": 3600,
            "last_month_usd": 3600,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 3600,
            "statutory_max_usd": 10800,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 9000,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 12600,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "East Boston",
            "unit_type": "2br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 3100,
            "first_month_usd": 3100,
            "last_month_usd": 3100,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 3100,
            "statutory_max_usd": 9300,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 7800,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 10800,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Allston Brighton and Mission Hill",
            "unit_type": "2br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2950,
            "first_month_usd": 2950,
            "last_month_usd": 2950,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2950,
            "statutory_max_usd": 8850,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 7200,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 10500,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Jamaica Plain",
            "unit_type": "2br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2900,
            "first_month_usd": 2900,
            "last_month_usd": 2900,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2900,
            "statutory_max_usd": 8700,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 7200,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 10200,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Roxbury",
            "unit_type": "2br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2700,
            "first_month_usd": 2700,
            "last_month_usd": 2700,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2700,
            "statutory_max_usd": 8100,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 6600,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 9600,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Roslindale and West Roxbury",
            "unit_type": "2br",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2500,
            "first_month_usd": 2500,
            "last_month_usd": 2500,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2500,
            "statutory_max_usd": 7500,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 6000,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 9000,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Downtown Boston and Seaport District",
            "unit_type": "studio",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2800,
            "first_month_usd": 2800,
            "last_month_usd": 2800,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2800,
            "statutory_max_usd": 8400,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 7200,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 9600,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Back Bay and Beacon Hill",
            "unit_type": "studio",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2600,
            "first_month_usd": 2600,
            "last_month_usd": 2600,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2600,
            "statutory_max_usd": 7800,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 6600,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 9000,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "South End",
            "unit_type": "studio",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2300,
            "first_month_usd": 2300,
            "last_month_usd": 2300,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2300,
            "statutory_max_usd": 6900,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 5700,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 8100,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Charlestown and Somerville-adjacent",
            "unit_type": "studio",
            "rent_mid_usd": 2250,
            "first_month_usd": 2250,
            "last_month_usd": 2250,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 2250,
            "statutory_max_usd": 6750,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 5700,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 7800,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "East Boston",
            "unit_type": "studio",
            "rent_mid_usd": 1900,
            "first_month_usd": 1900,
            "last_month_usd": 1900,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 1900,
            "statutory_max_usd": 5700,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 4800,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 6600,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Jamaica Plain",
            "unit_type": "studio",
            "rent_mid_usd": 1850,
            "first_month_usd": 1850,
            "last_month_usd": 1850,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 1850,
            "statutory_max_usd": 5550,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 4500,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 6600,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Allston Brighton and Mission Hill",
            "unit_type": "studio",
            "rent_mid_usd": 1800,
            "first_month_usd": 1800,
            "last_month_usd": 1800,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 1800,
            "statutory_max_usd": 5400,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 4500,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 6300,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Roxbury",
            "unit_type": "studio",
            "rent_mid_usd": 1650,
            "first_month_usd": 1650,
            "last_month_usd": 1650,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 1650,
            "statutory_max_usd": 4950,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 4200,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 5700,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        },
        {
            "area": "Roslindale and West Roxbury",
            "unit_type": "studio",
            "rent_mid_usd": 1500,
            "first_month_usd": 1500,
            "last_month_usd": 1500,
            "security_deposit_max_usd": 1500,
            "statutory_max_usd": 4500,
            "at_signing_low_usd": 3600,
            "at_signing_high_usd": 5400,
            "months_of_rent": 3
        }
    ]
}