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Duxbury is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, with a predominantly owner-occupied housing market and a smaller but growing population of renters. As a sought-after South Shore community, rental prices can be significant, making it especially important for tenants to understand their legal rights before signing a lease or facing a dispute with a landlord.
Massachusetts provides some of the strongest statewide tenant protections in the country, covering security deposit handling, habitability standards, anti-retaliation measures, and eviction procedures. Duxbury has not enacted any local tenant protections beyond these state requirements, so the Massachusetts General Laws govern all landlord-tenant relationships in the town.
This page is intended as an informational overview of the laws most relevant to Duxbury renters. It is not legal advice. If you are facing an eviction, a deposit dispute, or unsafe housing conditions, you should contact a qualified attorney or legal aid organization for guidance specific to your situation.
Duxbury has no rent control, and Massachusetts state law provides no mechanism for automatic rent caps on private market units. In November 1994, Massachusetts voters approved Question 9, a statewide ballot initiative that immediately repealed all existing rent control ordinances in Cambridge, Boston, and Brookline. That repeal left the entire state without any rent regulation.
In 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 358, which removed the statutory prohibition on local rent control ordinances, theoretically allowing cities and towns to enact their own regulations again. However, as of April 2026, no municipality in Massachusetts — including Duxbury — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. Duxbury's smaller scale and predominantly residential character make such an ordinance unlikely in the near term.
In practice, this means Duxbury landlords may raise rent by any amount between lease terms, provided they give proper written notice before the new rent period begins. There is no cap on annual increases, no requirement to justify an increase, and no registry of rents. Tenants facing a significant rent increase should review their lease carefully and understand that they have the right to decline to renew and vacate with proper notice.
Massachusetts law provides a robust set of protections for all tenants in the state, including those renting in Duxbury. The following summarizes the most significant rights under the Massachusetts General Laws.
Security Deposit Rules (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 tenants must receive written notice of the bank name, address, and account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Landlords must provide an annual accounting of the interest earned. At the end of the tenancy, the landlord has 30 days to return the deposit with an itemized written statement of any deductions.
Habitability and the Sanitary Code (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): All rental units in Massachusetts must comply with the State Sanitary Code, which sets minimum standards for heat, hot water, structural integrity, ventilation, pest control, and more. Tenants who believe their unit violates the code can report conditions to the Duxbury Board of Health or the Plymouth County inspectional services. If a landlord fails to correct serious violations, tenants may have the right to withhold rent, use the repair-and-deduct remedy, or terminate the lease, subject to specific procedural requirements under M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L.
Notice to Terminate (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): For month-to-month tenancies, either a landlord or a tenant must provide at least 30 days' written notice before terminating the tenancy. The notice must be timed so that it expires at the end of a full rental period. Tenants with a fixed-term lease are generally entitled to remain through the lease's expiration date unless the lease specifies otherwise or a cause for earlier termination exists.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Massachusetts law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who exercise their legal rights, such as reporting housing code violations, requesting repairs, contacting a board of health, organizing with other tenants, or participating in legal proceedings. 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 or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): It is illegal in Massachusetts for a landlord to remove a tenant's belongings, change the locks, or shut off essential utilities — including heat, water, or electricity — to force a tenant out. These actions, sometimes called self-help eviction, are prohibited even if the tenant is behind on rent. A landlord found liable under this statute may be required to pay the tenant up to three months' rent or actual damages, plus attorney's fees.
Massachusetts has some of the strictest security deposit laws in the United States, and they apply fully to all rentals in Duxbury under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Maximum Deposit Amount: A landlord may not collect a security deposit greater than the equivalent of one month's rent. Collecting more than one month's rent as a deposit is a violation of the statute.
Holding Requirements: The deposit must be placed in a separate, interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank within 30 days of receipt. The landlord must provide the tenant with written notice of the bank's name, address, and the account number. Each year, the landlord must provide the tenant with a statement of the interest accrued, and must pay the tenant that interest (or credit it toward rent) annually.
Condition Statement: Within 10 days of the tenant moving in — or upon receipt of the deposit, whichever is later — the landlord must provide a written statement of the condition of each room in the unit. The tenant has the right to note any disagreements. Failure to provide this statement can limit the landlord's ability to make deductions.
Return Deadline: The landlord must return the security deposit, along with any accrued interest, within 30 days after the tenancy ends. If the landlord makes deductions, they must provide a written itemized statement of repairs or cleaning costs, along with receipts or invoices.
Penalties for Violations: If a landlord fails to return the deposit on time, fails to hold it in a proper account, comingles it with other funds, or improperly deducts from it, the tenant may be entitled to treble (triple) damages — three times the amount wrongfully withheld — plus interest, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(7).
Evictions in Duxbury follow the Massachusetts summary process procedure governed primarily by M.G.L. c. 239 (Summary Process) and related statutes. Landlords must follow each step lawfully; skipping any step can result in dismissal of the eviction case.
Step 1 — Notice to Quit: Before filing in court, a landlord must serve the tenant with a written Notice to Quit. The required notice period depends on the reason for eviction. For nonpayment of rent, the landlord must give a 14-day Notice to Quit (M.G.L. c. 186, § 11). For no-fault termination of a month-to-month tenancy, the landlord must give 30 days' written notice expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). For cause other than nonpayment, the notice period is generally governed by the lease terms or statutory requirements.
Step 2 — Summons and Complaint: If the tenant does not vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord may file a Summary Process complaint in the appropriate Massachusetts District Court or Housing Court. Plymouth County cases may be heard in Plymouth District Court. The court will issue a summons scheduling a hearing date, which the landlord must serve on the tenant.
Step 3 — Hearing: Both the landlord and tenant appear at the scheduled hearing. Tenants have the right to raise defenses, including improper notice, retaliation, habitability issues, or the landlord's failure to comply with security deposit law. The judge may issue judgment for possession to either party.
Step 4 — Execution: If the court rules in the landlord's favor, a Writ of Execution is issued no sooner than 10 days after judgment (M.G.L. c. 239, § 5). Only a licensed constable or sheriff may physically remove a tenant under a valid writ. The landlord has no authority to personally remove a tenant or their belongings.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14, it is unlawful for a landlord to lock out a tenant, remove their personal property, or shut off utilities as a means of forcing them to leave. Tenants subjected to a self-help eviction may recover up to three months' rent or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees and costs.
Just Cause Eviction: Duxbury has no just cause eviction ordinance. Unlike Boston, which enacted such an ordinance in 2024, Duxbury landlords are not required to provide a legally specified reason for declining to renew a tenancy, beyond proper notice.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws in Massachusetts — including statutes, regulations, and court interpretations — can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. RentCheckMe makes no representations as to the accuracy or completeness of this information as of any date after April 2026. If you are involved in a housing dispute, facing eviction, or need guidance about your rights as a renter in Duxbury, Massachusetts, you should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization for advice tailored to your circumstances.
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