Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Hanson is a small residential town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, with a population of approximately 10,000 residents. While much of the region's renter-focused policy debate centers on larger cities like Boston and Worcester, Hanson renters are fully protected by Massachusetts state law — widely regarded as among the most tenant-protective in the United States. Common questions from Hanson tenants include how security deposits must be handled, what notice a landlord must give before eviction, and what remedies exist when a landlord refuses to make repairs.
Massachusetts law sets a clear floor of tenant protections that applies uniformly in Hanson. These include a cap on security deposits, strict return deadlines with financial penalties for non-compliance, strong habitability standards enforced through the state Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), and robust anti-retaliation rules. Hanson has not enacted any local tenant ordinances beyond what state law requires, so the Massachusetts General Laws are the primary source of renter rights in this town.
This article provides an informational overview of the laws affecting Hanson renters. It is not legal advice. Renters facing active disputes or eviction proceedings should consult a qualified housing attorney or contact a local legal aid organization for guidance specific to their situation.
Hanson has no rent control, and neither does any other city or town in Massachusetts. Massachusetts voters passed a statewide ballot initiative — Question 9 — in November 1994, which prohibited rent control across the entire state. That ban effectively ended rent control in the cities that had it at the time, including Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline.
In 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which lifted the statewide prohibition and gave cities and towns the legal authority to enact their own rent stabilization ordinances again. However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts municipality — including Hanson — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance under this authority.
In practical terms, this means Hanson landlords may raise rent by any amount, at any time, as long as they provide proper advance notice and the increase does not take effect during a fixed lease term. For month-to-month tenants, a rent increase requires at least 30 days' written notice under M.G.L. c. 186, § 12. Tenants on a fixed-term lease are protected from rent increases until that lease expires. There is no government review, approval process, or cap on how much rent can be raised in Hanson.
Massachusetts provides renters with several strong statewide protections that apply fully in Hanson.
Security Deposits (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B): Landlords in Hanson may not collect a security deposit exceeding one month's rent. The deposit must be held in a separate, interest-bearing bank account, and the landlord must provide the tenant with written documentation of the bank name, account number, and deposit amount within 30 days of receipt. Upon move-out, the landlord has 30 days to return the deposit along with an itemized written statement of any deductions. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in treble damages (three times the deposit amount), plus attorney's fees.
Habitability and Repairs (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): Every rental unit in Hanson must comply with the Massachusetts Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), which sets minimum standards for heat, hot water, structural integrity, pest control, and more. Landlords are legally required to maintain units in habitable condition. Tenants who identify violations may report them to the Hanson Board of Health. If a landlord fails to remedy serious violations after proper notice, tenants may have the right to withhold rent, repair conditions and deduct costs from rent, or terminate the lease — as authorized 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 in Hanson. This notice must be delivered to expire at the end of a rental period (for example, if rent is due on the first of the month, the notice period must end on the last day of a month). Fixed-term lease tenants cannot be required to vacate before the lease expires unless they have violated its terms.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Massachusetts law strongly protects tenants from landlord retaliation. A landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, or initiate eviction proceedings in response to a tenant reporting a housing code violation, contacting the Board of Health, organizing with other tenants, or exercising any other legal right. If a landlord takes any of these adverse actions within six months of a tenant's protected activity, the law presumes the action was retaliatory. Tenants who successfully prove retaliation may recover up to three months' rent, attorney's fees, and actual damages.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): It is illegal for a landlord in Hanson to lock a tenant out, remove doors or windows, or intentionally shut off utilities (heat, electricity, water) as a means of forcing a tenant to leave. This is known as a self-help eviction and is prohibited under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14. Tenants subjected to such conduct may sue for damages of no less than three months' rent or actual damages (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees.
Massachusetts has some of the strictest security deposit laws in the country, and they apply in full to Hanson rentals under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Cap: A landlord may not collect a security deposit of more than one month's rent. Collecting more than this amount is itself a violation of the statute.
Holding Requirements: The 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 a written receipt that includes the bank's name and address, the account number, and the amount deposited. The tenant is entitled to annual interest on the deposit at the rate paid by the bank.
Move-In Documentation: Within 10 days of the tenant moving in (or within 10 days of receiving the deposit, whichever is later), the landlord must provide a written statement of the condition of the premises. The tenant has 15 days to add any items to this list. This document protects the tenant at move-out against improper damage claims.
Return Deadline: Within 30 days after the tenant vacates the unit, the landlord must return the full deposit — plus any accrued interest — along with a written itemized statement of any deductions. Deductions may only be made for unpaid rent, damage beyond normal wear and tear, and certain other costs specifically permitted by statute.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: If a landlord fails to return the deposit on time, provides a deficient itemized statement, or otherwise violates the statute, the tenant may sue for treble damages (three times the amount of the deposit), plus court costs and reasonable attorney's fees. These penalties apply even if the landlord had a legitimate reason for keeping some portion of the deposit but failed to follow the procedural requirements.
Evictions in Hanson follow the Massachusetts summary process (eviction) procedure governed primarily by M.G.L. c. 239 (Summary Process) and related statutes. There is no just cause eviction requirement in Hanson — landlords do not need a specific reason to end a tenancy once it has expired or been properly terminated with notice, though they must follow every procedural step.
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: nonpayment of rent requires a 14-day Notice to Quit (M.G.L. c. 186, § 11); termination of a month-to-month tenancy requires a 30-day Notice to Quit (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12); lease violations (other than nonpayment) typically require a 30-day notice with an opportunity to cure. The notice must be properly served — hand-delivered or mailed in accordance with statutory requirements.
Step 2 — Summary Process Summons and Complaint: If the tenant does not vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord may file a Summary Process Summons and Complaint at the Plymouth Housing Court (which has jurisdiction over Hanson). The landlord must pay a filing fee, and a court date (Entry Day) will be scheduled.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both the landlord and tenant have the right to appear and present their case. Tenants may raise defenses such as the landlord's failure to maintain the unit in habitable condition, improper notice, or retaliation. The judge will issue a ruling; if the court finds in the landlord's favor, a judgment for possession is entered.
Step 4 — Execution and Enforcement: After a judgment, the tenant has 10 days to appeal before the landlord may request a Writ of Execution authorizing the constable or sheriff to carry out the physical eviction. Tenants facing hardship may request a stay of execution from the court.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: A landlord in Hanson may never lock out a tenant, remove their belongings, shut off utilities, or use any other form of self-help to force a tenant out. These acts violate M.G.L. c. 186, § 14 and can result in the landlord being liable for no less than three months' rent or actual damages — whichever is greater — plus attorney's fees.
The information provided in this article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change, and the specific facts of your situation may affect how the law applies to you. Hanson renters facing eviction, habitability issues, security deposit disputes, or other housing problems should consult a qualified Massachusetts housing attorney or contact a legal aid organization such as Greater Boston Legal Services or Mass Legal Help. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the information presented here, and is not responsible for any actions taken in reliance on this content.
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.