HD 3299 would require landlords to have "good cause" (such as nonpayment of rent or lease violations) to evict tenants in most residential properties. It caps annual rent increases at 10% or the local inflation rate (based on the Consumer Price Index), whichever is lower, and defines specific exemptions. Exemptions include small landlords (owning ≤10 units), owner-occupied homes, hospitals, senior housing, student dorms, and properties with income-based affordability requirements. This law applies only in cities or towns that formally adopt it, with additional rent thresholds exempting higher-priced units.
HD 3813 prohibits landlords from using credit reports for tenant screening or requiring credit-related questions for tenants receiving government rent subsidies (like Section 8 vouchers). It directly affects subsidized tenants and landlords, banning credit checks unless required by federal/state law. Key provisions require landlords to obtain separate written consent for any credit report use, disclose reasons for adverse actions, allow tenants to dispute report inaccuracies, and cover all associated costs. The law also prohibits retaliation against tenants who exercise these rights or report violations. This bill takes effect 90 days after passage.
HD 4213 allows Massachusetts cities and towns to offer property tax credits to landlords who provide reduced rents to specific tenants: seniors aged 65+ or tenants permanently and totally disabled (who qualify for federal benefits like Social Security, Railroad Retirement, or military retirement). The bill enables local governments to set their own eligibility rules, credit amounts, and duration for this tax incentive. It directly affects landlords who rent to eligible seniors or disabled tenants, and local governments that choose to implement the program. The policy change provides a concrete tax benefit for qualifying rental properties without mandating participation by any municipality.
HD 4021 protects tenants in Massachusetts from landlord retaliation related to immigration status. It prohibits landlords from threatening to report a tenant's immigration status (unless required by law) or suing to evict based solely on that status. Landlords can still follow legal requirements like court orders, verify financial qualifications, or address lease violations. Tenants who face prohibited actions can seek actual damages, up to $2,000 per violation, attorney fees, or other court-ordered relief. The bill explicitly states immigration status cannot be used in housing rights cases unless directly relevant to the claim.
By Mr. Eldridge, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 984) of James B. Eldridge for legislation to regulate junk fees in rental housing. Housing.
By Representative LeBoeuf of Worcester, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3990) of David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf and Russell E. Holmes relative to tenants and small property owners. Housing.
HD 1433 creates "tenant’s escrow accounts" to help rental tenants save for home purchases. Tenants can voluntarily contribute a portion of their rent to these accounts, and landlords may also contribute (with the state matching those contributions). Landlords who contribute can deduct three times the contribution amount from their annual taxable income. The program is administered by the executive office of housing, with funds held in a dedicated "Tenant’s Escrow Fund" that is exempt from certain state financial rules. The bill directly affects renters seeking homeownership and landlords participating in the savings program.
HD 1669 is a draft bill titled "An Act to enable home share programs." It aims to establish a framework for home share programs, which connect individuals needing housing support (such as seniors or people with disabilities) with host households in shared living arrangements. The bill would directly affect vulnerable residents seeking affordable, supportive housing and housing providers participating in these programs. As a draft, it outlines the necessary mechanisms to create such programs but has not yet been enacted.
This bill establishes a legal framework for "homesharing" in Massachusetts, allowing homeowners (homesharing providers) to rent rooms in their owner-occupied homes to others (homesharers) in exchange for services like housekeeping or meal prep, at below-market rent. It requires written agreements covering rent, shared spaces, service limits (max 7 hours/week, no healthcare), and termination notices, while exempting these arrangements from standard landlord-tenant laws. The bill also creates a Homesharing Opportunity Relief Fund to assist with relocation costs if agreements fail, and mandates minimum insurance coverage ($1 million for providers, $100,000 for homesharers). It directly affects homeowners seeking to share their homes and homesharers providing services for reduced rent.
HD 4092 requires Massachusetts' Executive Office of Housing to create regulations by January 1, 2024, allowing landlords to apply for rental assistance programs on behalf of their tenants. This directly affects tenants eligible for programs like the Massachusetts Rental Voucher Program, Alternative Housing Voucher Program, and Rental Assistance for Families in Transition. The key provision mandates that housing authorities and contracted agencies accept these landlord-submitted applications for rental assistance. The bill aims to simplify access to housing support by removing a barrier that previously required tenants to apply directly.
