An Act enabling local options for tenant protections

This bill allows Massachusetts cities and towns to choose whether to implement local rent control and eviction protections for multi-family housing. Under the new Tenant Protection Act, municipalities that opt in can regulate rents and require landlords to provide specific reasons, such as non-payment or lease violations, before evicting tenants. The law includes exemptions for owner-occupied homes with three or fewer units, newly constructed buildings, and certain specialized facilities like dormitories and hospitals. Additionally, the bill permits local governments to set fair return standards for landlords and establish administrative bodies to oversee these regulations and assist small property owners.