Reliance record

Tenants Rights and Resources Notification Ordinance (Cambridge M.C. ch. 8.71)

Applies: apartments per the assessor.

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.

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 · https://www.cambridgema.gov/tenantrights

1 Oct 2026

Massachusetts security deposit limits and handling (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B)

Applies: apartments per the assessor.

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.

(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 · https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleI/Chapter186/Section15B

1 Oct 2026

Broker fee payable only by the party who engaged the broker

Applies to all residential rentals in Massachusetts.

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.

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 · https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXVI/Chapter112/Section87DDD%201~2

1 Oct 2026

No application fees by landlords (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B)

Applies: apartments per the assessor.

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).

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 · https://masslandlords.net/can-massachusetts-landlords-charge-an-application-fee/

3 Oct 2026

Source-of-income / housing subsidy discrimination ban (M.G.L. c. 151B, § 4(10))

Applies to all residential rentals in Massachusetts.

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.

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) · https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleXXI/Chapter151B/Section4

1 Oct 2026

CORI access limits for evaluating rental housing applicants

Applies to all residential rentals in Massachusetts.

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.

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) · https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleII/Chapter6/Section172

3 Oct 2026

Cambridge Fair Housing Ordinance: source-of-income protection (incl. Section 8)

Applies: 6 units, so the exemption for an owner-occupied two-family dwelling cannot apply. State screening rules apply too; both are listed here.

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.

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) · https://www.cambridgema.gov/departments/humanrightscommission

1 Oct 2026

Initiative Petition 25-21 (statewide rent increase limit) barred from ballot

The petition would have repealed c. 40P and capped annual rent increases for covered dwelling units. The SJC held it relates to religion because of its exemption for religious facilities, so art. 48 bars it from the November 2026 ballot.

The petition proposes a limit on annual rent increases for residential dwelling units but exempts several categories of units, including those in "facilities operated solely for . . . religious . . . purposes."

Initiative Petition 25-21; Mass. Const. Amend. art. 48, The Initiative, II, § 2; Cella v. Attorney General, SJC-13893 (2026) · https://www.mass.gov/doc/cella-v-attorney-general (SJC-13893 slip opinion)

4 Oct 2026

No local rent control permitted (state bar), G.L. c. 40P, § 4

Cities and towns may not enact, maintain or enforce rent control of any kind. The only exception is for a municipality that accepts chapter 40P and adopts regulation that is voluntary after six months, excludes owners of fewer than ten rental units and units with fair market rent above $400, and compensates owners from general funds.

No city or town may enact, maintain or enforce rent control of any kind, except that any city or town that accepts this chapter may adopt rent control regulation that provides:

M.G.L. c. 40P, § 4 · https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter40P/Section4

1 Oct 2026

No rent control permitted (state bar, G. L. c. 40P)

Massachusetts law broadly prohibits any regulatory scheme based on or implementing rent control, including any regulation requiring below-market residential rents.

General Laws c. 40P, § 2, "broadly prohibits any regulatory scheme based upon or implementing rent control."

M.G.L. c. 40P, §§ 2-3 · https://www.mass.gov/doc/cella-v-attorney-general (SJC-13893 slip opinion)

4 Oct 2026

2026 statewide rent control ballot question (struck by SJC)

The proposed ballot initiative would have limited annual rent increases for residences in Massachusetts, but the Supreme Judicial Court ruled it cannot go on the November 2026 ballot because its religious-use exemption makes it a measure relating to religion, which the state Constitution bars from the initiative process.

The state’s Supreme Judicial Court ruled a ballot question seeking to bring rent control back to Massachusetts cannot go forward this November, because it includes a religious exemption.

Mass. Const. amend. art. 48, The Initiative, Pt. II, § 2 (SJC ruling, June 2026) · https://www.wbur.org/news/2026/06/23/massachusetts-high-court-rent-control-ballot-question-struck

3 Oct 2026

No rule at this level

No rent increase limits rule at the Cambridge level; state law bars local rules (M.G.L. c. 40P, § 4).

No city or town may enact, maintain or enforce rent control of any kind, except that any city or town that accepts this chapter may adopt rent control regulation that provides:

M.G.L. c. 40P, § 4 · https://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartI/TitleVII/Chapter40P/Section4

1 Oct 2026

No rule at this level

No just cause eviction rule at the state level in Massachusetts.

No citing text ·

Retrieval date not recorded

No rule at this level

No security deposits rule at the Cambridge level; state law applies.

No citing text ·

Retrieval date not recorded

No rule at this level

No application screening fees rule at the Cambridge level; state law applies.

No citing text ·

Retrieval date not recorded

H.5222, An Act relative to preventing algorithmic rent fixing in the rental housing market

Bill, not law: a pending bill or proposal, not yet enacted.

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.

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) · https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/H5222

1 Oct 2026

An Act prohibiting algorithmic rent setting (S.2983)

Bill, not law: a pending bill or proposal, not yet enacted.

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.

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

Mass. S. 2983, 194th Gen. Ct. (2025-2026) · https://malegislature.gov/Bills/194/S2983

1 Oct 2026

No rule at this level

No algorithmic rent setting rule at the state level in Massachusetts. A pending bill could change this; see the change register.

No citing text ·

Retrieval date not recorded

Cambridge policy order initiating ban on algorithmic rent-setting services

Bill, not law: a pending bill or proposal, not yet enacted.

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.

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 · https://www.cambridgeday.com/?p=158097

3 Oct 2026

No rule at this level

No algorithmic rent setting rule at the Cambridge level; state law applies. A pending bill could change this; see the change register.

No citing text ·

Retrieval date not recorded