In Massachusetts, USA,
a landlord cannot charge interest or a penalty on late rent until 30 days after the due date. However, the landlord can begin the eviction process immediately, even if the rent is only one day overdue. The landlord also cannot use a reverse penalty clause to encourage you to pay early. For example, it is illegal for a landlord to reduce the rent by 10% if the rent is paid within the first five days of the month.
Does this mean that if you pay rent say, five (5) days late, the landlord may charge a late fee as long as it is not actually charged until 30 days after the original due date?
Or must the payment be 30 days overdue to charge a late fee at all?
The wording to me seems to put a restriction on what time the landlord can charge a fee, not what circumstances they may charge under.