An Act enabling local options for tenant protections

This bill, titled "An Act enabling local options for tenant protections," amends Massachusetts law to allow cities and towns to choose whether to implement specific local tenant protections. Under the new provisions, municipalities that opt in can regulate rent and evictions in multi-family housing, provided they also establish fair return standards for property owners and exclude owner-occupied homes with three or fewer units. The legislation defines "just cause" evictions, permitting landlords to end tenancies only for specific reasons such as non-payment of rent, lease violations, or illegal activity. Additionally, the bill allows local communities to set income-based eligibility requirements for regulated units and create administrative bodies to oversee these programs and assist small landlords. Ultimately, the act shifts the decision-making power regarding these housing measures to individual municipalities rather than mandating them statewide.