134 Oxford St

Requirement

Bill that, by its title, would address algorithmic rent fixing in the rental housing market. It is not law; it is awaiting action in House Ways and Means. The source does not reproduce the bill text.

Evidence

“An Act relative to preventing algorithmic rent fixing in the rental housing market”

H.5222, 194th Gen. Court (Mass. 2025-2026) (new draft of H.1564)

Requirement

Pending bill that would prohibit algorithmic rent setting in Massachusetts. The source gives only the title and committee history, so the operative terms (definitions, scope, penalties) cannot be read from the source.

Evidence

“of Cindy F. Friedman and Julian Cyr for legislation to prohibit algorithmic rent setting”

Mass. S. 2983, 194th Gen. Ct. (2025-2026)

Key value

Proposed ban on algorithmic/AI rent-recommendation services (not yet law)

Requirement

The City Council unanimously passed a policy order starting steps toward banning residential property managers from contracting with companies that use algorithmic or AI-driven models to recommend rents. The city manager is to draft policy options or ordinance language for the council later this term; no ordinance has been enacted.

Evidence

“City council also unanimously passed a policy order initiating steps to ban residential property management companies from contracting companies that use algorithmic and AI-driven models to recommend what they should charge for rent.”

Cambridge City Council policy order (June 2026), directing city manager to draft ordinance language; no ordinance cited

Key value

Ban on refusing or discriminating against tenants/applicants for receiving public assistance or housing subsidies (e.g. vouchers)

Requirement

It is unlawful to discriminate in furnishing rental accommodations against a person because they receive public assistance or a housing subsidy (including rental assistance), or because of any requirement of such a program.

Evidence

“For any person furnishing credit, services or rental accommodations to discriminate against any individual who is a recipient of federal, state, or local public assistance, including medical assistance, or who is a tenant receiving federal, state, or local housing subsidies, including rental assistance or rental supplements, because the individual is such a recipient, or because of any requirement of such public assistance, rental assistance, or housing subsidy program.”

M.G.L. c. 151B, § 4(10)

Key value

Lookback limits: felonies 10 years, misdemeanors 5 years from disposition (incl. end of incarceration/custody), plus pending charges

Requirement

A landlord may obtain CORI to evaluate rental applicants only if the applicant has signed an acknowledgement form, and the information is limited to felony convictions (10 years), misdemeanor convictions (5 years) and pending charges. A landlord holding an applicant's criminal history must give the applicant a copy before questioning them about it and if an adverse housing decision is made on that basis.

Evidence

“Criminal offender record information made available under this section shall be limited to the following: (i) felony convictions or findings of not guilty by reason of insanity for 10 years following the disposition thereof, including termination of any period of incarceration or custody, (ii) misdemeanor convictions for 5 years following the disposition thereof, including termination of any period of incarceration or custody, and (iii) pending criminal charges, which shall include cases that have been continued without a finding until such time as the case is dismissed pursuant to section 18 of chapter 278”

M.G.L. c. 6, § 172(a)(3), (c)

Key value

Source of income (including Section 8 and public benefits) is a protected category in housing

Requirement

Landlords may not discriminate in renting based on source of income, which includes Section 8 and public benefits. Tenant selection standards must be reasonable and applied equally and uniformly to all applicants, and may be based on ability to pay rent and ability to care for the apartment and respect others' rights.

Evidence

“The protected categories under the Cambridge Human Rights Ordinance and the Cambridge Fair Housing Ordinance are the following: Disability, Defined consistent with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), a physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or more major life activities Race Color National Origin or Ancestry Family Status Source of Income, includes Section 8 and public benefits”

Cambridge Municipal Code ch. 14.04 (Fair Housing Ordinance)

Key value

Broker fee payable only by the party (lessor or tenant) who engaged the broker

Requirement

A licensed broker or salesperson may contract with either the prospective tenant or the landlord, not both, and any fee must be paid only by the party who originally engaged the broker. A landlord's broker therefore cannot charge the tenant a fee.

Evidence

“Any fee shall only be paid by the party, lessor or tenant who originally engaged and entered into a contract with the licensed broker or salesperson.”

M.G.L. c. 112, § 87DDD½, as amended by St. 2025, c. 9, § 43

Key value

Landlords may not charge application fees; only first, last, security deposit and locks may be collected

Requirement

Before a tenancy begins, a lessor may require payment only of first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit and a lock fee; application, pet, cleaning and amenity fees are forbidden. Licensed brokers may charge fees if they comply with 254 CMR 7 (written disclosure of fee amount, timing and contingency).

Evidence

“It states that prior to the beginning of a tenancy, no lessor may require payment for anything except first, last, security, and locks”

M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B; 254 C.M.R. 7

Key value

Security deposit capped at 1 month's rent (plus first month, last month and lock/key cost); return within 30 days

Requirement

At or before the start of a tenancy a landlord may collect only first month's rent, last month's rent, a security deposit of no more than one month's rent, and the cost of a key and lock. The deposit must be held in a separate interest-bearing Massachusetts bank account, with 5% annual interest (or the lesser amount the bank paid) paid to the tenant. It must be returned within 30 days after the tenancy ends, less itemized, sworn deductions for allowed items.

Evidence

“(b) At or prior to the commencement of any tenancy, no lessor or agent of the lessor may require a tenant or prospective tenant to pay, to the lessor or to an agent of the lessor, any amount in excess of the following: (i) rent for the first full month of occupancy; and, (ii) rent for the last full month of occupancy calculated at the same rate as the first month; and, (iii) a security deposit equal to the first month's rent provided that such security deposit is deposited as required by subsection (3) and that the tenant is given the statement of condition as required by subsection (2);”

M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B

Key value

Notice-of-rights requirement only; no just-cause protection

Requirement

Owners, landlords and management companies must give tenants the city's rights-and-resources Guide at the start of a tenancy and when legal steps to terminate a tenancy are taken (e.g., Notice to Quit or Summary Process). The ordinance does not limit the grounds for eviction.

Evidence

“The Ordinance also requires that a landlord provide the Guide to tenants when legal steps to terminate a tenancy are taken (ex. Notice to Quit or Summary Process).”

Cambridge Municipal Code ch. 8.71