In 2025, Massachusetts continues to face challenges related to housing affordability, and rent increases are a key concern for tenants across the state. If you’re a tenant in Massachusetts or planning to move there, it’s important to understand the laws surrounding rent increases to know your rights and what to expect. Here’s a breakdown of what tenants should know about rent increase laws in Massachusetts in 2025.
1. General Rent Increase Rules in Massachusetts
In Massachusetts, there are no statewide rent control laws, meaning that landlords are generally free to raise rents as they see fit. However, there are several important regulations to consider that protect tenants and provide limits in specific situations.
2. How Much Can Rent Be Increased?
In Massachusetts, there are no specific limits on how much a landlord can increase rent, as long as the increase is reasonable and within the scope of the lease agreement. However, the state requires landlords to follow a few key rules:
Notice of Rent Increase: Landlords are required to provide written notice to tenants before increasing rent. For leases that are month-to-month, landlords must give at least 30 days’ notice before the increase takes effect. For tenants on longer leases, the terms of the lease agreement will dictate the notice period, but typically, landlords must provide 60 days’ notice before a rent increase.
Timing of Rent Increases: Rent increases can usually happen once the current lease expires, or if you’re on a month-to-month lease, they can happen after the required notice period. Rent cannot be increased during the middle of a lease term unless the lease specifically allows for such increases.
3. Rent Increases for Subsidized Housing
If you live in subsidized housing or receive government assistance through programs like Section 8, the rules around rent increases are different. In these cases, rent increases are typically regulated by the government to ensure they remain affordable for low-income tenants. Rent adjustments are based on factors like changes in the tenant’s income and the area’s cost of living.
Additionally, tenants in subsidized housing are protected from arbitrary rent hikes, and landlords must follow specific procedures to apply for a rent increase. This may include submitting forms to the local housing authority and providing proper documentation of costs.
4. Local Rent Control Measures
While Massachusetts does not have statewide rent control, some cities have attempted to implement local rent control laws or measures. However, rent control in Massachusetts is limited and not widely used. For example, Boston and Cambridge have explored options for regulating rent in certain circumstances, but local ordinances generally apply to specific situations, like rent increases in certain types of housing, rather than imposing broad rent control.
In areas like Somerville, there have been discussions around rent stabilization, but as of now, these are still relatively new and localized measures. Tenants in cities that are considering rent control should stay updated on local policies and regulations.
5. Limits on Rent Increases for Evictions
If you are being evicted and your landlord offers you a new lease at a higher rent, there are specific rules that protect you from unfair rent hikes. In cases where tenants are evicted without fault (such as when a landlord decides to sell the property), the landlord may not increase rent significantly or unfairly as part of the new lease. In such cases, tenants have certain protections to ensure that they are not penalized by drastic rent hikes after eviction.
SOURCES
[1] https://baystatebanner.com/2025/04/16/new-rent-control-legislation-takes-aim-at-drastic-increases/
[2] https://www.reneelazarlaw.com/blog/2025/05/massachusetts-rent-increase-laws-2025-what-tenants-should-know/
[3] https://rentpost.com/resources/article/raise-rent-laws-in-massachusetts/
[4] https://www.mass.gov/info-details/tenant-rights
[5] https://www.steadily.com/blog/rent-increase-laws-regulations-massachusetts
