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In Massachusetts, rental housing has always been a hot topic. The state’s housing costs are 108% higher than the national average, especially in Nantucket city.
This has resulted in over 2,300 state-funded apartments remaining vacant and made it difficult for landlords to keep their rental income in line with the rising cost of living.
If you’re planning to become a landlord in the future, you may wonder: how much can you raise rent in Massachusetts?
Table of Contents
How Much Can You Raise Rent in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, you can raise rent freely by any amount. This is because there’s no statutory limit by which the rent can be increased as it was until 1994.
What is the Rent Cap in Massachusetts?
There’s no rent cap in Massachusetts. Landlords can increase rent by any amount to adjust the rising inflation, local housing market conditions, property maintenance costs, and utility expenses, if eligible.
How Often Can a Landlord Raise Rent in Massachusetts?
A landlord can increase rent as often as they want, provided they give proper notice based on the type of lease agreement.
Rent Increase Notice in Massachusetts By Government
While Massachusetts lacks rent control laws, it requires landlords to serve an advance written notice to their tenants for any hike in rent to be considered “legal.”
- Tenancy-At-Will/Without a Fixed-Term Lease: A written notice at least 30 days prior is required.
- One-Year Lease: Time until the lease period ends.
- Month-to-Month Lease: Rent increases must take effect on the first day of a new rental cycle.
Note: Tenants have the right to appeal against any unfair increase in rent as per existing laws in the state of Massachusetts.
Single-Family Home Rent Increase in Massachusetts
Landlords of single-family homes can also increase rent at will, with no official cap.
Does Massachusetts Have Rent Control?
Certain Massachusetts cities, such as Boston, Cambridge, Somerville, Brookline, and Lynn used to have strict rent control laws until 1994. It was only after 1994 that the state legislature decided to abolish statewide limits on rent hikes, backed by the 51-49 majority. This decision was further supported by economists, who felt that rent control would not solve the state’s affordable housing crisis.
The result?
The median rental prices in Massachusetts rose by over 30% between 2012-2024, much faster than the median household income in the same period.
Can a Landlord Raise Rent More Than 10% in Massachusetts?
Yes, a landlord can raise rent by more than 10% in Massachusetts. There’s no legal limit on how much a landlord can charge for renting their property in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
What Are the New Rental Laws in Massachusetts 2025?
Massachusetts may not have statewide rent control laws, just the 37th such state in the United States, but it does have other laws in the interest of tenants.
Law for Rental Agreement
No rental agreement is needed for tenancies lower than 12 months. For tenancies longer than 12 months, however, a well-drafted and legally compliant rental agreement is a no-miss.
This rental agreement must include:
- Rental unit’s description
- Rent amount, due date, and late fees
- Lease duration
- Landlord and tenant’s rights and responsibilities
- Security deposit amount (if any)
Law for Rent
Landlords in Massachusetts can charge any amount for their rental property and collect the payment in any mode they feel comfortable with. The first month’s rent, however, must be paid by the tenant before moving in.
If the landlord wishes to raise rent, they can do so by informing the tenant at least 30 days before the rent goes up.
Law for Security Deposit
Unlike other US states and counties, the security deposit isn’t mandatory in Massachusetts. But if the landlord decides otherwise, this security deposit should be equal to one month’s rent. Besides, the landlord must store it in a separate, interest-bearing account from Massachusetts.
Tenants can ask for the receipt within 30 days of the landlord receiving the security deposit, which must include the following information:
- Bank’s name
- Account number
- Deposit amount
- Statement indicating that the tenant is entitled to all interest (earned on both the security deposit and last month’s rent.) received from the bank where the deposit has been held, if they live in the apartment for at least 1 year
Law for Landlord’s Entry
If required, the landlords and tenants can decide on a particular timing for the former to enter the property. This is an additional clause, thus completely optional.
Law for Eviction and Termination
Landlords can serve a formal eviction or terminate notice to the tenant in the following cases:
- Late rent payment
- Lease term(s) violations
- Involvement in criminal activity (s)
How to Manage Your Rental Property and Rent Collection?
If you’re a landlord or property manager, you’ve got a ton of responsibilities, including rent collection, expense tracking, responding to tenant requests, communicating with contractors, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Doing all this manually isn’t just stressful but also time-consuming.
The property management software comes into the picture here. It simplifies everything, thus making your life easier.
1. Makes Rent Collection Easier
One of the biggest headaches for landlords is collecting rent on time. Chasing tenants for payments or keeping track of who paid and who didn’t can be frustrating. Property management software automates this process. Tenants can pay rent online through the software, and it sends reminders to them when payments are due. You no longer have to worry about late payments or handling cash and checks.
With software, you can also set up automatic rent payments to make the whole process convenient for both you and your tenants. Plus, it keeps a record of all transactions, so you always know where your money is.
2. Helps Keep Track of Everything
Managing a single rental unit or tenant is fine. But what about multiple properties or tenants? The latter means dealing with a lot of information, from leases and maintenance requests to utility bills. Property management software keeps all this information in one place. You can easily access tenant details, lease agreements, and financial reports without digging through piles of paperwork.
For example, if a tenant has a maintenance issue, they can report it through the software. You get notified immediately and can assign the task to a repair person. This ensures faster service and happier tenants.
3. Saves Time and Reduces Errors
Doing everything manually often leads to mistakes. Problems like misplaced receipts, forgotten rent payments, or errors in calculating late fees become inevitable. These errors can cost you money and damage your relationship with tenants.
The software automates repetitive tasks like calculating rent, tracking expenses, and sending reminders. This reduces the chances of mistakes and saves you a lot of time. You can focus on other important aspects of property management instead of being stuck with paperwork.
4. Improves Communication with Tenants
Good communication is key to being a successful landlord or property manager. Property management software makes it easy to stay in touch with tenants. You can send updates, reminders, or even notices through the platform. Tenants can also use the software to reach out to you for any questions or concerns.
This streamlined communication creates a better experience for tenants, which can lead to longer lease terms and fewer vacancies.
5. Provides Insights and Reports
Another benefit of property management software is that it gives you insights into your business. You can generate financial reports to see how much rent you’re collecting, track maintenance costs, and understand which properties are most profitable.
These insights help you make smarter decisions. For example, if you notice one property has high maintenance costs, you might decide to invest in upgrades to reduce expenses in the long run.
RentPost is one such leading property management tool that’s specifically designed to help you manage your rental properties like a pro.
With RentPost, you can:
- Generate Income and Expense Reports with a single tap. This way, you get to understand your rental property’s financial health and whether it’s the right time to raise rent.
- Set Up Automatic Payment Reminders through text and/or mail to ensure late payments never haunt you or your tenants. Plus, late fees are automatically calculated and applied based on predetermined schedules.
- Collect Rent Online using a wide range of payment modes, such as a credit card, debit card, and bank transfer. Guess what? The software will automatically generate payment receipts and send them to tenants electronically.
- View Rent Payment Status and outstanding balances (if any) in real-time and from anywhere.
- Screen Tenants to select only the most eligible ones. Request background and credit reports of applicants, eviction history, identity verification, and more.
- Add Rental Units or Tenants as your rental business scales by paying just $1/month for every additional unit.
Frequently asked questions
How much can you raise rent in Massachusetts?
In Massachusetts, landlords can raise rent by any amount because there’s no legal rent cap. Since 1994, the state has not imposed any limits on rent increases, allowing landlords to adjust prices based on inflation, property maintenance, and market conditions. However, tenants must receive proper notice before the new rent takes effect.
What is the rent cap in Massachusetts?
There is no rent cap in Massachusetts. Landlords can increase rent as much as they choose. The amount often depends on inflation, maintenance costs, and local market trends. While there are no limits, landlords should consider fair pricing to retain good tenants.
How often can a landlord raise rent in Massachusetts?
A landlord can raise rent as often as they want, but they must give proper notice. For month-to-month leases, landlords must notify tenants at least 30 days before the rent increase. For yearly leases, they must wait until the lease term ends.
What notice is required for a rent increase in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts law requires landlords to provide written notice before increasing rent:
- Month-to-month lease: At least 30 days’ notice
- Fixed-term lease: No increase until the lease ends
- Tenancy-at-will: At least 30 days’ notice
Tenants have the right to challenge unfair rent increases under state laws.
Can a landlord raise rent more than 10% in Massachusetts?
Yes, landlords in Massachusetts can raise rent by more than 10%. There is no legal limit on rent hikes, so landlords can increase rent as much as they see fit. However, sudden and high rent increases may cause tenants to move out.
Does Massachusetts have rent control?
No, Massachusetts does not have rent control. Rent control was abolished in 1994, meaning landlords can set rental prices freely. While some cities advocate for new rent control laws, none are currently in place statewide.
Are there new rental laws in Massachusetts for 2025?
While Massachusetts has no rent control, it has other tenant-friendly laws. These include:
- No written lease required for rentals under 12 months
- Security deposits cannot exceed one month’s rent
- Landlords must store security deposits in interest-bearing accounts
- Tenants can request a receipt for their deposit within 30 days
How much security deposit can a landlord charge in Massachusetts?
Landlords can charge up to one month’s rent as a security deposit. They must store it in a separate, interest-bearing account and provide tenants with a receipt within 30 days. Tenants are entitled to the interest earned if they stay for at least one year.
Can a landlord enter a rental unit without permission in Massachusetts?
Landlords must give tenants reasonable notice before entering a rental unit, except in emergencies. A specific entry schedule can be agreed upon in the lease, but it is not mandatory.
When can a landlord evict a tenant in Massachusetts?
A landlord can evict a tenant for reasons like:
- Not paying rent
- Violating lease terms
- Engaging in illegal activities
A formal eviction notice is required before legal action can begin.
How can landlords manage rent collection easily?
Landlords can use property management software like RentPost to automate rent collection. These tools allow tenants to pay online, send payment reminders, track expenses, and keep records of all transactions. This helps landlords avoid late payments and errors.
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