Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Beverly is a mid-sized coastal city in Essex County with a population of roughly 43,000. As an established North Shore community with a mix of renters in triple-deckers, apartment buildings, and condos, Beverly tenants frequently search for information about security deposit rules, eviction procedures, and their rights when landlords fail to make repairs.
Massachusetts provides renters with some of the most protective state-level tenant laws in the nation. Beverly renters benefit from strict security deposit caps and return requirements, robust habitability standards enforced through the state Sanitary Code, and strong anti-retaliation protections. Beverly itself has not enacted any local ordinances that go beyond state law, so Massachusetts statutes are the primary framework governing your tenancy.
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws and local conditions can change — if you are facing an eviction, deposit dispute, or habitability problem, consult a qualified attorney or contact a free legal aid organization.
Beverly has no rent control, and Massachusetts currently has no rent control anywhere in the state. In November 1994, Massachusetts voters approved ballot Question 9, which prohibited rent control in every city and town statewide. Cambridge, Boston, and Brookline had all operated rent control programs before that vote, and those programs ended on January 1, 1995.
In 2020, the state legislature passed Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which removed 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 Beverly — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance under that authority.
In practical terms, this means Beverly landlords may raise rents by any amount at lease renewal or upon proper notice for month-to-month tenants. There is no cap on how much rent can increase, no requirement to register rents, and no rent board. Your best protection against large rent increases is to negotiate a fixed-term lease and to understand your notice rights under M.G.L. c. 186, § 12.
Massachusetts state law provides Beverly renters with several meaningful protections that apply regardless of any local ordinance.
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 in Massachusetts, and the landlord must provide the tenant with written notice of the bank name, account number, and annual interest. Failure to comply with these requirements can give a tenant the right to demand return of the deposit immediately.
Habitability and the State Sanitary Code (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): Every landlord in Massachusetts must maintain rental units in compliance with the state Minimum Standards of Fitness for Human Habitation (105 CMR 410). This includes adequate heat (at least 68°F from September 16 through June 14), hot water, structural soundness, working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, and freedom from pests. Tenants can report violations to the Beverly Board of Health. If a landlord fails to correct code violations after written notice, tenants may have the right to withhold rent, repair-and-deduct up to four months' rent, or terminate the lease under M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L.
Notice to Terminate a Tenancy (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): For month-to-month tenancies, either party must give at least 30 days' written notice before terminating the tenancy. The notice must be timed to expire at the end of a rental period (e.g., if rent is due on the first of the month, notice given on March 15 would expire April 30, not April 15). Fixed-term leases expire by their own terms unless the parties agree otherwise.
Anti-Retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): A landlord may not increase rent, reduce services, or attempt to evict a tenant in retaliation for reporting housing code violations, contacting a government agency about conditions, or exercising any legal right. If a landlord takes an adverse action within six months of a protected act by the tenant, Massachusetts law presumes the action is retaliatory. Tenants who successfully prove retaliation may recover one to three months' rent, actual damages, and attorney's fees.
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction (M.G.L. c. 184, § 18): Landlords in Massachusetts are strictly prohibited from locking out tenants, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or using any other self-help measure to force a tenant out. Only a court judgment and a constable or sheriff executing a legal writ of execution can remove a tenant. Violations expose landlords to civil liability for actual and consequential damages.
Anti-Discrimination (M.G.L. c. 151B): Massachusetts fair housing law prohibits discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, religion, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, marital status, military status, and receipt of public assistance (including Section 8 vouchers). This protection is broader than federal fair housing law.
Massachusetts has some of the strictest security deposit rules in the United States, and they apply fully to Beverly rentals under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Cap: A landlord may not collect more than one month's rent as a security deposit, regardless of the length of the lease. In addition to the deposit, a landlord may collect first month's rent, last month's rent, and the cost of a new lock and key — but nothing more.
Separate Account & Interest: The deposit must be held in a separate, interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank. Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must give the tenant a written receipt that includes the bank's name and address and the account number. The tenant earns interest on the deposit at the rate paid by the bank (or 5% annually, whichever is lower), and that interest must be paid or credited each year.
Condition Statement: At the time of deposit, or within 10 days of the start of the tenancy, the landlord must provide a written statement of the condition of the premises. The tenant has 15 days to correct or amend the statement. This document is critical in any later dispute about damage deductions.
Return Deadline: The landlord must return the deposit (plus accrued interest, minus any lawful deductions) within 30 days after the tenancy ends. Any deductions must be accompanied by an itemized written statement with the dollar amount of each claimed damage and supporting documentation such as receipts or invoices.
Penalty for Violations: If a landlord wrongfully withholds all or part of the deposit, or fails to comply with the procedural requirements (such as maintaining a separate account or providing the condition statement), the tenant may be entitled to treble damages — that is, three times the amount wrongfully withheld — plus interest, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(7).
To legally evict a tenant in Beverly, a landlord must follow the formal court process established under Massachusetts law. Self-help eviction — locking out a tenant, removing their belongings, or shutting off utilities — is illegal under M.G.L. c. 184, § 18 and exposes the landlord to civil liability.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve a written notice on the tenant. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Summary Process Filing: If the tenant does not vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord must file a Summary Process (eviction) complaint in the appropriate Housing Court or District Court. Beverly falls within the jurisdiction of the Northeast Housing Court. The landlord pays a filing fee and receives a court date, typically 2–4 weeks out.
Step 3 — Service & Answer: The tenant is served with a Summons and Complaint and has the right to file a written Answer, raise defenses (such as retaliation, habitability, or improper notice), and assert counterclaims (such as a security deposit violation). Raising defenses in writing before the hearing is strongly recommended.
Step 4 — Hearing: The Housing Court judge hears both sides. If the landlord prevails, the court enters a judgment for possession. The tenant typically has 10 days after judgment to vacate or to appeal. Tenants may also request a stay of execution in cases of hardship.
Step 5 — Execution & Removal: If the tenant does not leave after judgment, the landlord may obtain a writ of execution and hire a constable or sheriff to carry out the removal. Only a court officer may physically remove a tenant — not the landlord.
Just Cause Requirement: Beverly does not have a just cause eviction ordinance. Massachusetts state law does not require just cause for no-fault terminations of tenancies at will or for non-renewal of fixed-term leases. However, a landlord cannot evict in retaliation for a tenant exercising legal rights (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18).
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are complex and fact-specific, and the information on this page may not reflect the most recent changes to Massachusetts statutes, regulations, or local ordinances. Beverly renters facing eviction, security deposit disputes, habitability problems, or other housing issues should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization before taking action. RentCheckMe makes no representations about the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for any actions taken in reliance on it.
Find out if your home is covered by rent control or tenant protections.
Use the Address Checker →We'll email you if the rent cap, coverage rules, or tenant protections change — no spam, unsubscribe any time.