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Dartmouth is a mid-sized town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, situated along the southern coast near New Bedford. The town has a significant renter population, including students and families connected to UMass Dartmouth, and renters in the area most commonly seek information about security deposit rules, landlord repair obligations, and the eviction process.
While Dartmouth has not enacted any local tenant-protection ordinances beyond what state law requires, Massachusetts itself provides renters with some of the most robust protections in the United States. Key state statutes govern everything from the maximum allowable security deposit and its handling, to landlord obligations under the state Sanitary Code, to strong anti-retaliation protections for tenants who assert their legal rights.
This article is intended to provide general, factual information about tenant rights in Dartmouth under Massachusetts law. It is not legal advice. If you have a specific legal problem, please consult a licensed attorney or contact a local legal aid organization.
Dartmouth has no rent control ordinance, and landlords are free to raise rent by any amount between tenancy terms. Massachusetts voters repealed rent control statewide in November 1994 through a ballot initiative known as Question 9. That repeal applied to every city and town in the Commonwealth, including the cities of Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline, which had maintained rent-stabilization programs up to that point.
In 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which removed the statewide prohibition on local rent control and theoretically allowed municipalities to enact their own ordinances. However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts city or town — including Dartmouth — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance under this authority.
In practice, this means Dartmouth landlords may raise rent by any amount upon proper notice and at the end of a lease term. There is no cap on how much rent can increase, no requirement to justify increases, and no registry or approval process. Renters facing large rent increases should verify whether their lease has expired, confirm they have received proper written notice under M.G.L. c. 186, § 12, and consult a legal aid organization if the timing suggests retaliation under M.G.L. c. 186, § 18.
Massachusetts law provides Dartmouth renters with several significant protections that apply regardless of whether a local ordinance exists.
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 tenant must receive written notice of the bank name, account number, and interest rate within 30 days of deposit. Landlords must return the deposit — along with accrued interest — within 30 days of the tenancy ending, accompanied by an itemized list of any deductions. Failure to comply can expose the landlord to treble damages, costs, and attorney fees.
Habitability and the State Sanitary Code (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): Landlords are legally required to maintain rental units in compliance with the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code, which sets minimum standards for heat (at least 68°F from September 15 through June 15), hot water, structural integrity, pest control, and more. Tenants who identify violations may report them to the Dartmouth Board of Health. If conditions are serious enough, tenants may have the right to withhold rent, use the repair-and-deduct remedy (up to four months' rent in a 12-month period), or terminate the lease — subject to proper procedural steps.
Notice to Terminate (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): For month-to-month tenancies, a landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice to terminate, and that notice must expire at the end of a rental period. Week-to-week tenants are entitled to seven days' notice. These are minimum requirements; a lease may provide for a longer notice period.
Anti-Retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Massachusetts law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who report housing code violations, join a tenants' organization, withhold rent for habitability reasons, or exercise any other legal right. If a landlord raises rent, reduces services, or begins eviction proceedings within six months of a tenant taking a protected action, the law presumes the action is retaliatory. A tenant who prevails on a retaliation claim may recover up to three months' rent, plus attorney fees and costs.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): Self-help eviction is illegal in Massachusetts. A landlord may not remove a tenant by changing the locks, removing doors or windows, or shutting off heat, electricity, gas, or water. A tenant subjected to such conduct may recover actual damages or three months' rent — whichever is greater — plus attorney fees and costs.
Massachusetts has some of the strictest security deposit rules in the country, and they apply fully to Dartmouth landlords under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Maximum amount: A landlord may not collect more than the equivalent of one month's rent as a security deposit. Collecting more than this is itself a violation of the statute.
Holding requirements: The deposit must be placed in a separate, interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank within the first month of the tenancy. The landlord must provide the tenant with a written receipt identifying the name and address of the bank, the account number, and the applicable interest rate, all within 30 days of receiving the deposit.
Return deadline: Within 30 days after the tenancy ends, the landlord must return the deposit — plus any accrued interest — along with an itemized written statement of any deductions. Deductions are permitted only for unpaid rent, unpaid real estate taxes the tenant agreed to pay, and damage beyond normal wear and tear (which must be documented).
Penalties for non-compliance: If a landlord fails to return the deposit on time, fails to provide the required itemized statement, or wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit, the tenant may sue and recover treble (triple) the amount wrongfully withheld, plus court costs and reasonable attorney fees. These are among the strongest deposit-violation penalties in the nation and are regularly enforced by Massachusetts courts.
Last month's rent: Landlords in Massachusetts may also collect the last month's rent in advance (in addition to first month and security deposit). This last-month payment must also be placed in an interest-bearing account, and interest must be paid to the tenant annually.
Evictions in Dartmouth are governed by Massachusetts state law, primarily M.G.L. c. 239 (the summary process statute) and M.G.L. c. 186. The process involves several required steps, and a landlord who skips any of them cannot lawfully remove a tenant.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with the appropriate written notice. For nonpayment of rent, the landlord must serve a 14-day Notice to Quit (M.G.L. c. 186, § 11). For lease violations other than nonpayment, the notice period may vary by lease terms. For no-fault terminations of month-to-month tenancies, the landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12).
Step 2 — Filing in Court: If the tenant does not vacate after the notice period, the landlord may file a Summary Process (eviction) complaint in the Southeast Housing Court, which covers Bristol County including Dartmouth. The tenant is served with a summons and a hearing date is scheduled.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties appear before a judge. The tenant has the right to present defenses, including payment of rent owed, habitability issues, retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18), or procedural defects in the notice. Tenants should bring all documentation, including rent receipts, repair requests, and correspondence.
Step 4 — Judgment and Execution: If the landlord prevails, the court issues a judgment and, after a waiting period, an execution allowing the constable or sheriff to carry out the removal. Tenants may appeal or request a stay of execution.
No Just Cause Requirement: Dartmouth has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Unlike Boston's 2024 Just Cause Eviction Ordinance, Dartmouth landlords do not need to state a reason for ending a tenancy at the end of a lease term or a month-to-month tenancy — they need only provide the proper statutory notice.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): A landlord may never remove a tenant by changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities, or using physical force or intimidation. A tenant subjected to any self-help eviction tactic may sue for the greater of three months' rent or actual damages, plus attorney fees.
This article is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws can change, and the application of these laws depends on the specific facts of your situation. The information on this page reflects our understanding of Massachusetts law as of April 2026 and is specific to Dartmouth, Massachusetts. For advice about your individual circumstances, please consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in your area. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation.
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