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Everett is a densely populated city of approximately 50,000 residents in Middlesex County, directly north of Boston across the Mystic River. The city has experienced rapid population growth and rising rents in recent years, driven in part by its proximity to Boston and ongoing casino and commercial development near the waterfront. A significant share of Everett residents are renters, many of whom are low- and moderate-income households, immigrants, and working families who rely on strong legal protections to maintain stable housing.
Massachusetts provides some of the most tenant-protective statutes in the country, including a strict one-month cap on security deposits, mandatory interest-bearing deposit accounts, a 30-day return deadline with treble-damages for violations, robust habitability standards enforced through the state sanitary code, and strong anti-retaliation provisions. Everett renters benefit from all of these state-level protections. However, the city has enacted no local ordinances beyond state law, and there is no rent control, just-cause eviction requirement, or local tenant bill of rights in effect in Everett.
This page is intended to help Everett renters understand their legal rights under Massachusetts law. It is informational only and does not constitute legal advice. If you face an eviction, habitability issue, or deposit dispute, contact a qualified attorney or one of the free legal aid organizations listed below.
Everett has no rent control. Massachusetts voters passed a statewide ballot initiative (Question 9) in November 1994 that immediately repealed all existing local rent control ordinances across the state, including those in Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline. Since that repeal, no Massachusetts city or town has had the authority to regulate rents.
In 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which removed the statewide prohibition on rent control and technically allowed municipalities to enact new rent stabilization ordinances. However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts municipality — including Everett — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. Everett's city government has not introduced any such measure.
In practical terms, this means that landlords in Everett may raise rents by any amount at the end of a lease term or with proper notice before renewing a month-to-month tenancy. There is no cap on rent increases, no requirement to justify an increase, and no rent registry. Tenants whose leases are expiring have no legal right to renew at a controlled rent. The only protection against sudden rent increases in practice is the notice requirement: a landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice before increasing rent on a month-to-month tenant, and the increase cannot take effect until the next rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12).
Even without local ordinances, Everett renters benefit from Massachusetts's robust statewide tenant protections. Below are the key protections and the statutes that establish them.
Security Deposit Rules (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B): Massachusetts imposes strict limits on 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, and the tenant must receive written notice of the bank name and account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit. The landlord must pay the tenant annual interest on the deposit. Upon move-out, the landlord has 30 days to return the deposit with a written, itemized list of deductions. Failure to comply with any of these requirements can entitle the tenant to treble (triple) damages plus attorney's fees.
Habitability and Repairs (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): Massachusetts requires landlords to maintain rental units in compliance with the State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410.000). This code sets minimum standards for heat, hot water, plumbing, electrical systems, structural integrity, pest control, and more. Landlords must provide heat of at least 68°F from September 16 through June 14. If a landlord fails to maintain habitable conditions, tenants may report violations to the Everett Board of Health, which can issue orders to correct conditions. 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 for serious code violations), or terminate the lease if conditions are severe enough.
Notice Requirements for Termination (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): To end a month-to-month tenancy in Everett, a landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice to vacate. The notice must be timed to expire at the end of a rental period — meaning if rent is due on the first of the month, the notice must give the tenant through the end of that month. Tenants must give the same 30-day notice to their landlord when they intend to leave.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Massachusetts law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who exercise their legal rights. Retaliatory acts include rent increases, eviction attempts, reduction in services, or other adverse action taken in response to a tenant reporting code violations, contacting a government agency, organizing with other tenants, or pursuing legal remedies. Critically, any adverse action taken within six months of a protected act is legally presumed to be retaliatory. A tenant who prevails on a retaliation claim may recover one to three months' rent, plus attorney's fees and court costs.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): A landlord may not lock out a tenant, remove the tenant's belongings, or shut off utilities (heat, gas, electricity, water) as a means of forcing a tenant to leave. These acts — known as self-help evictions — are illegal in Massachusetts. A tenant subjected to a lockout or utility shutoff may sue the landlord for actual damages or three months' rent (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees, under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14.
Discrimination Protections (M.G.L. c. 151B): Massachusetts law prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, disability, familial status, source of income (including Section 8 vouchers), age, ancestry, marital status, and several other characteristics. Complaints may be filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).
Massachusetts has some of the strictest security deposit laws in the United States, and all of these rules apply in full to Everett rentals under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Maximum deposit amount: A landlord in Everett may not collect more than one month's rent as a security deposit, regardless of what the lease says. Any deposit above one month's rent is unlawful and potentially recoverable by the tenant.
Separate account and notice requirement: The security deposit must be deposited 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, the account number, and confirmation that the funds are held separately. Commingling the deposit with the landlord's personal or business funds is a violation.
Annual interest: The landlord must pay the tenant interest on the deposit each year, at the rate paid by the bank or 5% per year, whichever is less. The tenant may choose to have the interest credited against rent or paid directly.
Return deadline: The landlord must return the security deposit — or the remaining balance after lawful deductions — within 30 days after the tenancy ends. The return must be accompanied by a written, itemized statement of any deductions for damage beyond normal wear and tear. If the landlord withholds any portion without providing a proper itemized statement within 30 days, the landlord forfeits the right to retain any portion of the deposit.
Penalties for violations: If a landlord fails to comply with any of the requirements of M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B — including failing to return the deposit on time, failing to provide the required bank notice, or wrongfully withholding funds — the tenant may be entitled to treble (triple) damages on the wrongfully withheld amount, plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. These penalties are among the strongest in the country and are frequently enforced in Massachusetts Housing Court.
Landlords in Everett must follow a specific legal process to evict a tenant. Cutting corners — such as changing locks or removing belongings — is illegal and exposes the landlord to significant liability. The eviction process in Massachusetts is governed primarily by M.G.L. c. 239 (the summary process statute) and M.G.L. c. 186.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written notice. The type and length of notice depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Summons and Complaint: If the tenant does not vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord may file a Summary Process (eviction) complaint in the Middlesex County Housing Court (located in Woburn). The landlord must serve the tenant with a Summons and Complaint, which sets a court date typically 10 to 14 days out.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: The tenant has the right to appear and defend against the eviction. Common defenses include retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18), poor conditions or habitability violations, improper notice, and procedural defects. The judge may enter a judgment for the landlord or the tenant, or the parties may reach a settlement (called an Agreement for Judgment).
Step 4 — Execution and Move-Out: If the landlord wins, the court issues an Execution — a formal order allowing the sheriff or constable to remove the tenant. The tenant has 10 days from the judgment to appeal. The constable must give the tenant at least 48 hours' notice before physically removing them.
Self-Help Eviction Is Illegal: Under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14, a landlord may never lock out a tenant, remove doors or windows, shut off utilities (electricity, heat, gas, water), or remove the tenant's belongings to force them out. These acts are criminal offenses and also expose the landlord to civil liability for treble damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, 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 complex, fact-specific, and subject to change; the content here reflects Massachusetts law as of April 2026 but may not reflect subsequent legislative or judicial developments. Everett renters facing eviction, a security deposit dispute, habitability issues, or any other housing legal matter should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a free legal aid organization such as Greater Boston Legal Services. Do not rely solely on this page to make legal decisions.
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