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    Massachusetts Rent Increase Law

    No Massachusetts statute sets a separate rent-increase notice period; for a tenancy at will, raise rent with the same written notice used to end it, the longer of 30 days or one rental period before a rent day (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). Massachusetts has no rent control and bars cities and counties from adopting it.

    Last verified: · Researched and cited by MakeLease · not yet attorney-reviewed

    Massachusetts rent increase rules at a glance

    Notice of a rent increaseNo state ruleM.G.L. c. 186, § 12
    Rent controlNone; cities barred from adopting itM.G.L. c. 40P, § 4, M.G.L. c. 40P, § 3
    Ending a month-to-month tenancy30 days (either side)M.G.L. c. 186, § 12

    What Massachusetts law says

    How much notice is required for a rent increase in Massachusetts?

    No Massachusetts statute sets a separate rent-increase notice period; for a tenancy at will, raise rent with the same written notice used to end it, the longer of 30 days or one rental period before a rent day (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12).

    Does Massachusetts have rent control?

    Massachusetts has no rent control, and state law bars cities and towns from enacting or enforcing rent control on private housing except under narrow voluntary, compensated terms (M.G.L. c. 40P, §§ 3-4) (M.G.L. c. 40P, § 4).

    How much notice ends a month-to-month tenancy in Massachusetts?

    Either party can end a Massachusetts tenancy at will with written notice at least as long as the rental period or 30 days, whichever is longer, so a monthly tenancy needs a full rental period's notice ending on a rent day (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12).

    How Massachusetts compares

    23 of 51 verified jurisdictions set a statewide period.

    None of Massachusetts's 5 neighbors follows the same rule.

    Rent-increase noticeStates
    No statewide periodMassachusetts
    45 days (more in some cases)Connecticut
    30 days (more in some cases)New Hampshire, New York
    60 days (more in some cases)Rhode Island, Vermont

    Other Massachusetts rules

    Security deposit limit1 month's rentM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b), (d)
    Deposit return deadline30 days after move-outM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(4), (6)(e)
    Late-fee capNo state capM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(c) (timing only; no amount cap)
    Entry noticeNo statutory notice period. A lease may permit entry only to inspect, repair or show the unit to a prospective tenant, buyer or mortgagee; the landlord may also enter under court order, if the unit appears abandoned, or in the last 30 days of the tenancy to inspect for deposit damageM.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(a)
    Notice for unpaid rent14 days (14-day notice to quit for nonpayment of rent)M.G.L. c. 186, § 11, M.G.L. c. 186, § 12

    Read the Massachusetts law

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