Press Release  AG Campbell Secures $500,000 Settlement With Property Management Company For Charging Illegal Fees, Including Junk Fees Operating As "Lease Renewal Fees" and "Move-In Fees"

BOSTON — Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell today announced that she has reached a settlement with Boston-based property management company Green Ocean Property Management, LLC (“Green Ocean”), resolving allegations that the company charged tenants illegal junk fees disguised as “new lease” and “lease renewal” fees, among other improper fees. Green Ocean manages 377 units in the Greater Boston area, primarily clustered in areas around universities and hospitals. 

Under the terms of the settlement, Green Ocean will pay $500,000, which will be used to pay restitution to the impacted tenants, and refrain from collecting any illegal fees going forward. 

“As Massachusetts residents continue to grapple with an increasingly high cost of living, they should not be forced to pay illegal fees,” said AG Campbell. “Last year, my office adopted nation-leading junk fee regulations that make it clear that hidden fees like these are prohibited under the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act. This settlement reminds companies and residents that we will continue to enforce those regulations.” 

Massachusetts law prohibits landlords and property managers from requiring tenants to pay any amount of money at or prior to the start of a tenancy other than the first month’s rent, last month’s rent, a security deposit, and the actual cost of changing a lock.  

According to the AGO, Green Ocean charged renters illegal fees, such as a $250 “lease renewal fee,” a $500 “new lease fee,” and a $250 “roommate addition fee” prior to the beginning of a renewed tenancy or a tenancy with a new roommate. The AGO also alleges that Green Ocean charged tenants monthly for a mandatory “Resident Benefits Package” that primarily included benefits a landlord is already expected to provide to tenants, such as the ability to pay rent without an additional fee, a phone number for emergency repair requests, and the ability to obtain a landlord reference without paying an additional charge. 

The AGO also alleges that Green Ocean engaged in a practice of illegally collecting fees, double-dipping on early lease termination fees by charging tenants both its actual damages and liquidated damages, and assessing legal costs against tenants without a legal judgment or court agreement entitling them to that recovery. 

Additionally, the AGO alleged that Green Ocean’s leases included unfair and illegal terms that coercively dissuaded tenants from asserting their rights, including implementing harsh fines for tenants who contact the owners of leased properties and extreme daily penalties for keeping an unauthorized pet or overstaying a tenancy. Green Ocean’s lease also stated that rental payments would be applied first to late fees and other non-rent obligations before being applied to rent. This could result in the illegal assessment of additional late fees where tenants were otherwise current on their rent.  

This matter was handled by Assistant Attorneys General Jane Sugarman, Eric Carnevale, and Daniel Bahls, all of the AGO’s Consumer Protection Division, with assistance from former Paralegal Sarah Most, now an Investigator in the AGO’s Fair Labor Division, and Civil Investigators Melissa Casella and Colleen McMahon.  

In November 2025, AG Campbell released an updated Guide to Landlord and Tenant Rights to help tenants and landlord understand their legal rights and responsibilities, avoid costly misunderstandings and unnecessary conflicts, and uphold the rights of all Massachusetts residents to live in safe and affordable homes. The updated guide provides additional clarifications and explanations on a range of landlord and tenant issues that the AGO commonly encounters, including guidance on new housing laws like the eviction sealing and broker fee laws. 

Individuals who believe their rights have been violated should file a consumer with the AGO online, or by calling 617-727-8400.

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