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Braintree Town is a mid-sized community in Norfolk County, located about 10 miles south of Boston along the Red Line MBTA corridor. Its proximity to Boston and relatively lower rents compared to the city make it a popular destination for renters, and a significant share of Braintree Town's housing stock is occupied by tenants in single-family homes, condominiums, and multi-unit apartment buildings.
Renters in Braintree Town are governed entirely by Massachusetts state law — the town has enacted no local rent control, just-cause eviction protections, or additional tenant ordinances beyond what the Commonwealth requires. That said, Massachusetts has some of the most tenant-protective statewide laws in the country, including strict security deposit rules, a robust sanitary code, and strong anti-retaliation provisions. Understanding these protections is essential for every Braintree Town renter.
This page provides a plain-language summary of the tenant rights that apply to renters in Braintree Town as of April 2026. It is intended for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. Laws can change, and your specific situation may be different — always verify current rules with a licensed attorney or a qualified legal aid organization.
Braintree Town has no rent control, and none is expected in the near term. Massachusetts voters approved a statewide ballot initiative (Question 9) in November 1994 that prohibited all forms of rent control across the Commonwealth, ending rent stabilization programs that had existed in Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline. For nearly 30 years, no Massachusetts municipality had the legal authority to regulate rents.
That changed in 2020 when the legislature enacted Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which removed the statewide ban and theoretically allows cities and towns to adopt their own rent stabilization ordinances. However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts municipality — including Braintree Town — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. Boston, Cambridge, and other communities have debated the issue but have not passed binding legislation.
In practical terms, this means Braintree Town landlords may raise rent by any amount between lease terms, provided they give proper notice. For month-to-month tenants, that notice is at least 30 days (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). There is no cap on the percentage increase, no requirement to justify an increase, and no rent registry. Renters who receive a rent increase notice should carefully review their lease and understand that refusing the increase may lead to a tenancy termination proceeding.
While Braintree Town has no local ordinances, Massachusetts state law provides renters with meaningful protections across several areas:
Security Deposit Rules (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B): Massachusetts limits security deposits to a maximum of one month's rent. The deposit must be held in a separate, interest-bearing bank account, and the landlord must provide the tenant with the name of the bank and account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Landlords must also pay annual interest on the deposit. Upon move-out, the deposit must be returned within 30 days along with an itemized written statement of any deductions. Failure to comply can result in the tenant recovering up to three times the deposit amount plus attorney's fees.
Habitability and the State Sanitary Code (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): Massachusetts requires all rental housing to meet the State Sanitary Code, which sets minimum standards for heat, hot water, structural integrity, pest control, and more. Landlords must maintain properties in habitable condition throughout the tenancy. If a landlord fails to make required repairs after written notice, tenants may report the violation to Braintree Town's Board of Health, withhold rent (using a specific legal process), repair the problem and deduct the cost from rent (up to four months' rent in a 12-month period), or in severe cases terminate the lease under M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L.
Notice to Terminate (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): For month-to-month tenancies, either party must give at least 30 days' written notice before terminating, and the notice must be timed to expire at the end of a rental period. For tenants who pay rent weekly, at least 7 days' notice is required. Landlords cannot simply demand that a tenant leave without proper notice and a court order.
Anti-Retaliation Protections (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Massachusetts law strongly protects tenants who exercise their legal rights. A landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, refuse to renew a lease, or begin eviction proceedings in retaliation for a tenant reporting housing code violations, contacting a government agency, organizing with other tenants, or taking other protected actions. If a landlord takes any of these adverse actions within six months of a protected act, the retaliation is legally presumed — the burden shifts to the landlord to prove otherwise. A tenant who prevails on a retaliation claim may recover up to three months' rent, plus attorney's fees.
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): Landlords in Massachusetts are strictly prohibited from attempting to evict a tenant outside of the court process. Changing the locks, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or removing a tenant's belongings without a court order is illegal and can expose the landlord to significant liability, including damages of three months' rent or three times actual damages (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees.
Anti-Discrimination (M.G.L. c. 151B): Massachusetts fair housing law prohibits discrimination in housing 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). Renters who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).
Massachusetts has some of the strictest security deposit rules in the country, and they apply fully to Braintree Town renters under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Maximum Amount: A landlord may not collect a security deposit exceeding one month's rent. This cap applies regardless of the type of property or the length of the lease. A landlord may also collect the first and last month's rent and a reasonable lock-change fee at the start of a tenancy, but these are separate from the security deposit cap.
Holding Requirements: The security deposit must be deposited in a separate, interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank within 30 days. The landlord must provide the tenant with a written receipt identifying the bank, the account number, and the amount deposited. Commingling the deposit with the landlord's personal funds is a violation of the statute.
Annual Interest: Landlords must pay tenants interest on the security deposit each year (or at the end of the tenancy if shorter). The interest rate is either 5% or the actual rate paid by the bank, whichever is lower.
Return Deadline: The landlord must return the deposit — along with any accrued interest — within 30 days of the end of the tenancy. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must provide an itemized written statement of damages, supported by receipts or written estimates, within the same 30-day window.
Allowable Deductions: Landlords may deduct only for unpaid rent, damage beyond ordinary wear and tear, and any other charges permitted by the written lease.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: If a landlord fails to return the deposit within 30 days, fails to provide an itemized statement, or wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit, the tenant is entitled to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus interest, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees. This treble damages remedy makes Massachusetts one of the most tenant-protective states for deposit disputes.
In Braintree Town, landlords must follow Massachusetts state law to remove a tenant. There is no shortcut — self-help eviction is illegal, and only a court can order a tenant to leave.
Step 1 — Proper Notice: Before filing in court, a landlord must provide the appropriate written notice depending on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Summary Process (Eviction) Complaint: If the tenant does not comply with the notice, the landlord must file a Summary Process (eviction) complaint in the appropriate court — for Braintree Town, this is typically the Quincy Division of the District Court or the Eastern Norfolk Division of the Housing Court. The landlord must serve the tenant with a Summons and Complaint at least 7 days before the court date.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: The tenant has the right to appear in court, file a written answer, and assert defenses (such as the landlord's failure to maintain the property or retaliation). Both parties present their case before a judge. If the landlord wins, the court issues a judgment for possession.
Step 4 — Execution and Lockout: If the landlord obtains a judgment, the court will issue an Execution — a formal order allowing the sheriff or constable to remove the tenant. There is a mandatory 10-day appeal period after judgment before an Execution can issue. Only a sheriff or constable may carry out the physical removal; a landlord may never personally remove a tenant or their belongings.
Just Cause Eviction: Braintree Town has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Unlike Boston (which enacted a Just Cause Eviction ordinance in 2024), Braintree Town landlords are not required to provide a specific reason to decline to renew a lease or to end a month-to-month tenancy, as long as proper notice is given.
Prohibition on Self-Help Eviction (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): It is illegal for a landlord to lock out a tenant, remove doors or windows, shut off heat, electricity, or water, or otherwise interfere with a tenant's possession outside of the formal court process. Tenants subjected to an illegal lockout or utility shutoff may seek emergency relief from the court and may recover three months' rent or three times actual damages, plus attorney's fees.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. If you have a legal problem related to housing — including an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or unsafe living conditions — you should consult a licensed attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in Massachusetts. RentCheckMe does not provide legal representation and is not a substitute for professional legal counsel.
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