Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Dedham is a town of approximately 25,000 residents in Norfolk County, located just southwest of Boston. A significant share of Dedham's housing stock is renter-occupied, and many tenants commute into the Greater Boston metro area. Renters in Dedham frequently search for information on security deposit rules, eviction procedures, and what landlords are required to fix — all areas where Massachusetts law provides meaningful and specific protections.
Unlike Boston or Cambridge, Dedham has not enacted any local tenant protection ordinances beyond what state law requires. That means the rules governing your tenancy — from how your deposit must be held to how much notice you must receive before eviction — are set entirely at the state level. Massachusetts does provide some of the strongest statewide tenant protections in the country, particularly around security deposits and habitability standards.
This page is an informational resource to help Dedham renters understand their rights under Massachusetts law. It is not legal advice. If you have a specific dispute with your landlord, contact a licensed Massachusetts attorney or a local legal aid organization for guidance tailored to your situation.
Dedham has no rent control, and Massachusetts state law currently does not require it. In November 1994, Massachusetts voters approved a statewide ballot initiative (Question 9) that abolished rent control in every city and town in the Commonwealth, including communities like Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline that had longstanding rent stabilization programs. That voter mandate effectively wiped out all local rent control ordinances.
In 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which repealed the 1994 preemption law and theoretically restored cities' and towns' authority to enact rent control ordinances if they chose to do so. However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts municipality — including Dedham — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance under this restored authority.
In practice, this means Dedham landlords can raise rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenants, with proper written notice (at least 30 days, per M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). There is no cap on rent increases in Dedham. Renters on fixed-term leases are protected from increases during the lease term, but upon renewal, the landlord may propose any new rent amount.
Massachusetts state law provides Dedham tenants with a robust set of protections. The key provisions are summarized below, each with the relevant statutory citation.
Security Deposits (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B): Massachusetts strictly limits and regulates security deposits. A landlord may not collect more than one month's rent as a security deposit. 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 paying the deposit. The landlord must return the deposit — plus accrued interest — within 30 days of the tenancy ending, 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 & Repairs (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): Massachusetts landlords are required to maintain rental units in compliance with the State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), which sets minimum standards for heat, hot water, plumbing, structural integrity, and freedom from pests. If a landlord fails to correct a code violation after being notified, tenants may report the condition to the Dedham Board of Health, which can inspect and order repairs. Under M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L, tenants may also have the right to withhold rent, repair-and-deduct (up to four months' rent per year), or terminate the lease if conditions are serious enough to constitute a breach of the implied warranty of habitability.
Notice Requirements (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): For month-to-month tenants, a landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice to terminate the tenancy, and that notice must expire at the end of a rental period. Tenants wishing to terminate must give the same 30-day notice to the landlord. For tenants on fixed-term leases, the tenancy ends on the lease expiration date unless the lease provides otherwise.
Anti-Retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Massachusetts law strongly prohibits landlord retaliation against tenants who exercise their legal rights — including reporting code violations, contacting the Board of Health, organizing with other tenants, or exercising any right under a lease or state law. If a landlord raises rent, reduces services, or begins eviction proceedings within six months of a tenant's protected activity, the law presumes the action is retaliatory. A tenant who prevails on a retaliation claim may recover up to three months' rent, plus attorney's fees and costs.
Lockout & 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 locks, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or removing the tenant's belongings. Any landlord who engages in self-help eviction is liable for the tenant's actual damages or three months' rent — whichever is greater — plus attorney's fees.
Anti-Discrimination (M.G.L. c. 151B): Massachusetts law prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, familial status, marital status, source of income (including Section 8 vouchers), and several other protected characteristics. The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) enforces these protections.
Massachusetts has some of the most tenant-protective security deposit rules in the United States, and they apply in full to Dedham rentals. The governing statute is M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Cap on Amount: A landlord may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit, regardless of the term of the lease or the perceived risk of the tenant. Collecting more than one month's rent as a deposit is a violation of the statute.
How Deposits Must Be Held: The deposit must be deposited within 30 days in a separate, interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank. The landlord must give the tenant a written receipt identifying the bank's name and address, the account number, and the annual interest rate. The tenant earns interest on the deposit at the bank's rate or 5% per year, whichever is less.
Return Deadline: The landlord must return the security deposit within 30 days after the tenancy ends. Along with the returned funds (plus interest), the landlord must provide an itemized written statement of any deductions. Allowable deductions are limited to unpaid rent and damage beyond normal wear and tear.
Penalties for Violations: If a landlord fails to return the deposit within 30 days, fails to provide the required itemized statement, comingles the deposit with other funds, or otherwise violates § 15B, the tenant may sue and recover up to three times the deposit amount (treble damages), plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. Massachusetts courts have enforced these penalties strictly — even technical violations can trigger the treble damages remedy.
Last Month's Rent: A landlord may also collect up to one month's rent as a last month's rent payment at the start of the tenancy. This is separate from the security deposit, but the landlord must provide a receipt and pay interest on it as well.
In Dedham, evictions must follow the formal legal process established under Massachusetts law. Landlords cannot remove a tenant through self-help measures. The relevant statutes governing eviction procedure are primarily found in M.G.L. c. 239 (Summary Process) and M.G.L. c. 186.
Step 1 — Notice to Quit: Before filing in court, a landlord must serve the tenant with a written Notice to Quit. The type and length of notice varies by the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Summary Process Complaint: If the tenant does not vacate after the Notice to Quit period expires, the landlord must file a Summary Process (eviction) complaint in the Eastern Housing Court (which covers Norfolk County, including Dedham). The tenant will be served with a Summons and Complaint and must appear in court on the return date.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties appear before a Housing Court judge. Tenants have the right to raise defenses, including breach of the warranty of habitability, retaliation, improper notice, or procedural defects. Tenants may also request a jury trial in some circumstances. The court will issue a judgment; if in the landlord's favor, the court issues an execution.
Step 4 — Execution and Move-Out: A landlord with a valid execution must wait at least 10 days before requesting a constable or sheriff to carry out the physical move-out. Only a constable or sheriff can physically remove a tenant — the landlord cannot do so personally.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): At no point in this process may a landlord change locks, remove doors or windows, shut off utilities, or remove the tenant's belongings. Such conduct constitutes illegal self-help eviction and exposes the landlord to liability for the greater of three months' rent or actual damages, plus attorney's fees.
Just Cause Eviction: Dedham has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Massachusetts also has no statewide just-cause requirement. Landlords may choose not to renew a fixed-term lease or terminate a month-to-month tenancy for any lawful reason, provided proper notice is given — subject only to the anti-retaliation protections of M.G.L. c. 186, § 18.
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, and the application of any law to your particular situation may vary. Laws and local ordinances may change after the date this page was last updated. Renters in Dedham, Massachusetts who have questions about a specific dispute, eviction, or lease issue should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization such as Greater Boston Legal Services. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is formed by using this site.
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.