This bill (H 5095) limits how far in advance landlords can require tenants to sign new leases. It prohibits landlords or their agents from demanding lease agreements more than four months before the current lease ends. The law directly affects renters and residential landlords in Massachusetts by preventing long-term lease commitments that restrict tenant flexibility. The key provision is a clear, time-based restriction on lease signing timelines.
Senate, December 11, 2025 -- The committee on Housing to whom was referred the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1008) of Joan B. Lovely, James K. Hawkins, James B. Eldridge, Jason M. Lewis and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the Massachusetts rental voucher program, report the accompanying bill (Senate, No. 2826).
This bill requires state-aided public housing for the elderly to allow pet ownership under specific, non-discriminatory rules. It prohibits outright bans on dogs (including breed-based restrictions), declawing, or evictions solely for having a pet, while permitting reasonable requirements like pet deposits (max $160 or one month’s rent), spaying/neutering, and emergency care plans. Housing authorities must develop written policies for different housing types (apartments, single-family homes, etc.) and establish pet committees for grievance handling. An advisory group will help update regulations and create guidance for implementing these policies, with violations subject to penalties under existing law.
By Representative Sousa of Framingham, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2542) of Priscila S. Sousa for legislation to address state sanitation code violations regarding infestations of rental units. Public Health.
This bill (H 1664) modifies Massachusetts court procedures for rent escrow in eviction cases. It requires tenants who withhold rent (e.g., to cover repairs) to deposit the withheld amount into a court-held account instead of paying it directly to landlords. The deposit covers rent due under the lease, calculated from when withholding began, and must be held until the eviction case concludes. If the tenant wins, funds go first toward repairs; if the landlord wins, the tenant must pay the full amount. The bill is currently pending review by the Judiciary Committee and is not yet law.
HD 2254 creates a new rent escrow system in Massachusetts for tenants who withhold rent due to landlord failure to maintain habitable housing. It requires banks to establish accounts payable only with signatures from both the tenant and landlord (or property owner), without additional verification for account setup. Tenants must deposit withheld rent into this escrow account (or court-controlled/attorney-controlled accounts) before withholding rent, and must meet specific conditions including health department inspections and written notice to the landlord. Landlords must fix violations within 15 days (or a reasonable time) after notice, and the escrow funds are paid to the landlord per court order after resolving the dispute. This directly affects tenants and landlords in housing code violation cases involving rent withholding.
This bill requires landlords of multi-unit rental properties to install and maintain free window guards on specified windows (over 6 feet high, opening wide enough for a 5-inch ball) at the request of tenants with children under age 10. Landlords must provide written notice in leases and oral notice at move-in about this right, and cannot charge extra fees or discriminate against tenants requesting guards. Window guards must be designed to prevent accidental removal without a key, with special provisions for fire escape windows. The Department of Public Safety will establish rules for installation, inspection, and training, and can impose $5,000 penalties for violations.
This bill repeals Sections 28, 52, and 144 of Chapter 150 from the 2024 Acts, which previously governed landlords' rights to request tenant information. The repeal removes specific provisions that allowed landlords to obtain certain tenant details under defined circumstances. As a result, landlords will no longer have these legally established rights to access that information under the repealed sections. The change directly affects landlords operating under Massachusetts law who previously relied on these provisions.
This bill authorizes the City of Somerville to create local "right to purchase" legislation for residential properties. It directly affects tenants living in covered rental buildings (most residential properties in Somerville) when landlords sell them. The key mechanism requires landlords to notify tenants and the city within 2 business days of accepting a sale offer, giving tenants 15-30 days to decide whether to buy the property at the offered price or delegate their right to a tenant group or city-designated nonprofit. The city may also exercise this right, but existing condo conversion rules (Ordinance 2019-06) take precedence for those properties.
By Representative Roy of Franklin, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1561) of Jeffrey N. Roy relative to requiring notices to landlords relating to gas or electric shutoffs. Housing.
