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Abington is a town of roughly 16,000 residents in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, located about 25 miles south of Boston. As housing costs across Greater Boston have risen sharply, many Abington renters find themselves searching for answers about rent increases, security deposits, repairs, and the eviction process. Massachusetts state law governs all of these areas and provides renters with notably strong protections compared to most other states.
Abington has no local tenant ordinances beyond state law, but that state law is comprehensive. The Massachusetts General Laws set a strict cap on security deposits, require landlords to maintain habitable conditions under the state Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), and protect tenants from landlord retaliation. Renters in Abington benefit from these protections automatically — no registration or special action is required to invoke them.
This article is intended as a general informational resource to help Abington renters understand their rights. It is not legal advice. If you are facing eviction, a lease dispute, or another urgent housing issue, contact a qualified attorney or free legal aid organization as soon as possible, since laws may change and individual circumstances vary.
Abington has no rent control, and there is no local ordinance limiting how much a landlord may raise rent. Massachusetts voters passed Question 9 in November 1994, which banned rent control across the entire state. That referendum immediately ended rent stabilization programs that had existed in Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline. For the following two and a half decades, state law flatly prohibited any municipality from enacting rent control.
In 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which repealed the statewide prohibition and theoretically allows cities and towns to enact their own rent stabilization ordinances again. However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts municipality — including Abington — has enacted a new rent control ordinance. The town of Abington has not taken any steps toward rent stabilization.
In practical terms, this means Abington landlords may raise rent by any amount they choose, as long as they provide proper written notice before the start of a new tenancy or lease period. For month-to-month tenants, the landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice before implementing a rent increase (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). There is no cap on the amount of the increase. Tenants who receive a rent increase they cannot afford may choose to vacate with proper notice rather than accept the new terms.
Massachusetts provides a robust set of state-level protections that apply to every renter in Abington regardless of whether the town has its own ordinances.
Security Deposit (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B): Landlords may not collect a security deposit exceeding one month's rent. The deposit must be held in a separate, interest-bearing bank account, and the tenant must receive written notice of the bank name, account number, and interest terms within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Failure to comply with these requirements can expose a landlord to significant financial penalties, including treble (triple) damages.
Habitability & Repairs (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): Every Massachusetts landlord must maintain rental property in compliance with the state Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), which sets minimum standards for heat, plumbing, structural integrity, pest control, and other conditions. If a landlord fails to make required repairs after receiving written notice, tenants may report violations to the Abington Board of Health, withhold rent (by paying into an escrow account), exercise repair-and-deduct remedies up to four months' rent, or terminate the tenancy under M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L.
Notice to Terminate (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): To end a month-to-month tenancy, a landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice that expires at the end of a rental period. Tenants on fixed-term leases are generally protected until the lease expires; a landlord cannot force a tenant to leave before the lease end date without legal cause.
Anti-Retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Landlords are prohibited from raising rent, reducing services, or initiating eviction proceedings in retaliation against a tenant who has reported code violations, contacted the board of health, organized with other tenants, or exercised any other legal right. If a landlord takes adverse action within six months of a tenant's protected activity, the law presumes the action is retaliatory. A tenant who prevails in a retaliation claim may recover up to three months' rent plus attorney's fees.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): Self-help eviction is illegal in Massachusetts. A landlord who removes a tenant's belongings, changes the locks, or shuts off utilities to force a tenant out without a court order may be liable for actual damages or three months' rent (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees.
Anti-Discrimination (M.G.L. c. 151B): Massachusetts fair housing law prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, religion, familial status, marital status, age, ancestry, military status, and source of income (including Section 8 vouchers). The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) enforces these protections.
Massachusetts has some of the most detailed and tenant-friendly security deposit rules in the United States, and they apply in full to all Abington rentals under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Cap on Amount: A landlord may not require a security deposit greater than one month's rent. Any deposit collected in excess of this limit is treated as an unlawful charge, and the tenant may demand its immediate return.
Separate Interest-Bearing Account: The deposit must be deposited in a separate bank account — not commingled with the landlord's personal or business funds — and must earn interest at the rate set by the bank. Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written statement identifying the bank's name and address and the account number.
Condition Statement: Within 10 days of the start of the tenancy, the landlord must provide the tenant with a written statement of the property's condition (a move-in checklist). Failure to provide this statement bars the landlord from later making any deductions from the deposit for pre-existing damage.
Return Deadline: The landlord must return the security deposit — along with any accrued interest — within 30 days after the tenancy ends. If any deductions are made, the landlord must provide an itemized written statement of damages accompanied by documentation (e.g., receipts or estimates) within the same 30-day period.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: If a landlord fails to return the deposit on time, fails to provide the required bank account notice, commingles the deposit, or wrongfully withholds any portion, the tenant may sue for treble damages (three times the amount wrongfully withheld), plus interest, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(7)).
The eviction process in Abington follows Massachusetts state law and must proceed through the courts. A landlord cannot remove a tenant without obtaining a court judgment.
Step 1 — Notice to Quit: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written Notice to Quit. The required notice period depends on the reason for eviction: (a) for nonpayment of rent, the landlord must give at least 14 days' notice (M.G.L. c. 186, § 11); (b) for termination of a month-to-month tenancy without cause, the landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12); (c) for a lease violation other than nonpayment, the landlord must give reasonable written notice to cure or vacate.
Step 2 — Summary Process Summons & Complaint: If the tenant does not vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord may file a Summary Process (eviction) action in the Plymouth Housing Court (or the appropriate district court with housing jurisdiction). The tenant will be served a Summons and Complaint stating the hearing date.
Step 3 — Answer and Discovery: The tenant has the right to file a written Answer raising defenses and counterclaims, including claims for breach of the warranty of habitability or retaliation. Under M.G.L. c. 239, tenants have significant procedural rights in summary process proceedings.
Step 4 — Hearing: Both parties present their case before a judge or magistrate. If the landlord prevails, the court issues a judgment for possession. The tenant then has a 10-day appeal period during which they may appeal to a higher court or seek a stay of execution.
Step 5 — Execution: After the appeal period expires (or after any appeal is resolved), the court may issue an Execution, which allows a constable or sheriff to physically remove the tenant. Only a court officer may carry out the removal — not the landlord directly.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: Under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14, a landlord who changes the locks, removes doors or windows, shuts off heat or utilities, or removes the tenant's belongings to force a vacancy without a court order commits an illegal lockout. The tenant may seek emergency injunctive relief and sue for actual damages or three months' rent — whichever is greater — plus attorney's fees.
Just Cause Eviction: Abington has no just cause eviction ordinance. Unlike Boston (which enacted a Just Cause Eviction ordinance in 2024), Abington landlords may terminate a month-to-month tenancy without stating a reason, provided they give proper 30-day notice.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are complex and fact-specific; individual circumstances vary. While we strive to keep this content accurate and up to date, laws and local ordinances can change at any time. Abington renters with specific legal questions or urgent housing situations — including eviction proceedings, habitability disputes, or security deposit issues — should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a free legal aid organization such as Greater Boston Legal Services or Mass Legal Help. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
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