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Foxborough is a town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, located about 25 miles southwest of Boston. While best known as the home of Gillette Stadium, Foxborough also has a significant renter population that relies on Massachusetts state law for housing protections. Unlike some nearby cities, Foxborough has not enacted any local tenant protection ordinances beyond what state law provides.
Massachusetts offers some of the strongest statewide tenant protections in the United States, including strict security deposit rules, robust habitability standards enforced through the state sanitary code, and firm anti-retaliation provisions. Renters in Foxborough benefit from all of these protections automatically under state law, regardless of what their lease says.
This article provides an overview of the tenant rights that apply to Foxborough renters. It is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have a specific legal problem, consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or a qualified legal aid organization.
Foxborough has no rent control. Massachusetts voters approved a statewide ballot initiative (Question 9) in November 1994 that prohibited rent control across the entire state, including in cities like Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline that had previously maintained rent control ordinances. That prohibition effectively ended rent stabilization everywhere in Massachusetts.
In 2020, the Massachusetts legislature passed Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which removed the statewide ban and technically allows individual cities and towns to enact their own rent control ordinances again. However, as of April 2026, no municipality in Massachusetts — including Foxborough — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance under this authority.
In practical terms, this means Foxborough landlords may raise rent by any amount at the end of a lease term or, for month-to-month tenants, with proper written notice. There is no cap on rent increases under state or local law. Tenants should carefully review lease renewal terms and be aware of notice requirements before any increase takes effect.
Massachusetts provides renters with a comprehensive set of statutory protections. The following key protections apply to all renters in Foxborough.
Security Deposit Rules (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B): Landlords may collect a security deposit of no more than one month's rent. The deposit must be held in a separate, interest-bearing bank account, and the landlord must provide written notice of the bank name and account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Interest accrues annually and must be paid to the tenant each year or credited against rent.
Warranty of 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, structural safety, pest control, and more. If a landlord fails to correct code violations after proper notice, tenants may report the condition to the Foxborough Board of Health, withhold rent (under court supervision), arrange for repairs and deduct the cost from rent, or terminate the lease under M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L.
Notice to Terminate Tenancy (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): A landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. The notice must expire at the end of a rental period (e.g., the last day of the month). Fixed-term leases expire automatically on the end date unless renewed.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Landlords are prohibited from retaliating against tenants who report housing code violations, contact a government agency, or exercise any other legal right. 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 in a retaliation claim may recover up to three months' rent plus attorney's fees.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): Self-help eviction is illegal in Massachusetts. A landlord may not remove a tenant's belongings, change locks, or shut off utilities to force a tenant out. Violations entitle the tenant to 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, disability, familial status, age, ancestry, marital status, military or veteran status, and source of income (including Section 8 vouchers). Complaints may be filed with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).
Massachusetts has some of the strictest security deposit rules in the country, and all of them apply to Foxborough rentals under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Maximum Deposit: A landlord may collect no more than one month's rent as a security deposit, regardless of the length of the lease or the type of unit.
Holding Requirements: The deposit must be placed in a separate, interest-bearing savings account at a Massachusetts bank within 30 days. The landlord must provide the tenant with written notice of the bank's name and address and the account number. Commingling the deposit with the landlord's personal funds is a violation of the statute.
Interest: The deposit earns interest at the rate of 5% per year or the actual rate paid by the bank, whichever is less. The landlord must pay the tenant this interest annually (or credit it against rent) and upon return of the deposit.
Return Deadline: The landlord must return the security deposit — along with any accrued interest — within 30 days after the tenancy ends. If the landlord intends to make deductions, they must provide an itemized written statement of damages and receipts (or written estimates) within the same 30-day period.
Allowable Deductions: Deductions are permitted only for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and unpaid real estate taxes the tenant was obligated to pay. Deductions for normal wear and tear are not permitted.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: If a landlord fails to comply with any requirement of § 15B — including improper holding, failure to pay interest, or wrongful withholding — the tenant is entitled to treble damages (three times the amount wrongfully withheld), plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. This is one of the strongest deposit-recovery remedies in any U.S. state.
Evictions in Foxborough follow the Massachusetts summary process procedure governed by M.G.L. c. 239 (Summary Process) and related statutes. Landlords must follow every step correctly; shortcuts are illegal.
Step 1 — Notice to Quit: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with a written Notice to Quit. The required notice period depends on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Summary Process Complaint: 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 Norfolk County) or the appropriate District Court. The landlord pays a filing fee and receives a hearing date.
Step 3 — Service & Answer: The tenant is served with the summons and complaint and has the right to file a written answer, raise defenses, and assert counterclaims (e.g., for retaliation, habitability, or security deposit violations).
Step 4 — Hearing: Both parties appear before a judge. Tenants may raise defenses including improper notice, retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18), breach of the warranty of habitability, or procedural errors by the landlord.
Step 5 — Judgment & Execution: If the court rules for the landlord, a judgment enters. The landlord must wait at least 10 days before requesting an Execution (the legal order authorizing a sheriff or constable to remove the tenant). Only a sheriff or constable may carry out a physical removal.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord may not change locks, remove doors or windows, shut off utilities, or remove a tenant's belongings to force them out. These acts constitute an illegal eviction under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14, and the tenant may recover the greater of three months' rent or actual damages, plus attorney's fees.
Just Cause: Foxborough has no just cause eviction ordinance. State law does not require a landlord to have a specific reason to terminate a month-to-month tenancy, as long as proper written notice is given.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information presented here reflects Massachusetts law and Foxborough local rules as of April 2026, but laws and regulations can change. Every tenancy situation is different, and the application of law to your specific facts may vary. If you are facing eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other housing legal issue, you should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in your area. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and cannot provide legal advice or representation.
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