How long can landlord hold onto my money in Massachusetts?

You should not have to ask for it but, you did give him your forwarding address - did you? By law, he has to return any unused portion and no where would he be given 2 or 2 1/2 months. I would send him a letter asking for $ - the amount you are owed and tell him that if you do not receive it within 5 days of the date of the letter - mail it the day the letter is dated, then you will hire a lawyer and sue him and he will end up owing your court costs, interest, etc. and you will also file a formal complaint against him with the national Rental Protection Agency.

Massachusetts requires such refunds within 30 days of the end of your rental agreement. I trust you have provided your new address to the landlord. If not, he has no idea where to send any refund. I suggest a politely but firmly worded letter to the landlord, sent certified mail, with return receipt requested. That way, you will know that he received your letter, and you will have proof of same.

He had 30 days from the day you returned possession. Getting your money back also requires that you had given the landlord a proper forwarding address. If you failed to give a forwarding address then the landlord must legally send it to your last known address -being the place you rented. if you also failed to get your mail forwarded with the post office then you are sol. If the landlord can prove they did send it to the known address with in the required 30 days then you lose.

In Massachusetts, a security deposit has to be returned within 30 days,

http://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/massachuset...

most states require the deposit to be returned within 30 days you might need to find out your state's laws about this and reference that to the landlord the next time you request your deposit

The same thing happened to my son. The landlord was disreputable. I think my son finally got a couple hundred back. I know the place was in tip top condition because I was there and cleaned...even windows.

Can you afford to pay the retainer to a lawyer,before he takes your case?

Then there would be the court costs and possible further lawyer's fees.

If you lose the case,you will also pay the landlord's costs.

Dig out your rental agreement/lease and look on the back of the very last page for the name and address of the property OWNER....write them a letter of complaint. If the property OWNER's name, is NOT on your paperwork, then go to your nearest court house, assessors office, give them the STREET ADDRESS of the place, they will give you the name and address of the property OWNER - write them a letter of complaint.

Usually in every state I know of you have to put a written request in stating you want your security deposit back.

I'm guessing forever