Want to skip straight to checking your own building? Use the RentCheckMe address checker.
Hingham is a coastal town in Plymouth County, Massachusetts, located about 15 miles southeast of downtown Boston. While Hingham is predominantly owner-occupied, its rental market — ranging from apartments near the commuter rail station to multi-family homes — means thousands of residents rent and need to understand their rights under state law.
Massachusetts provides some of the most comprehensive statewide tenant protections in the country, covering everything from strict security deposit requirements and habitability standards to robust anti-retaliation rules. Hingham itself has not enacted any local tenant ordinances beyond what state law requires, so renters here rely entirely on the Massachusetts General Laws for their protections.
This page summarizes the key tenant rights that apply in Hingham as of April 2026. It is intended as an informational resource only and does not constitute legal advice. Renters facing specific legal issues should consult a qualified attorney or contact a legal aid organization.
Hingham has no rent control, and there is no local ordinance limiting rent increases. Massachusetts voters approved a statewide ballot initiative (Question 9) in November 1994 that immediately abolished rent control in every Massachusetts city and town, including Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline, which had previously maintained local programs.
In 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which removed the statewide prohibition on rent control and restored authority to municipalities to enact their own ordinances. However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts municipality — including Hingham — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. This means landlords in Hingham are legally free to raise rents by any amount between tenancy periods, provided they give the required statutory notice.
In practical terms, Hingham renters on month-to-month leases can receive a rent increase with as little as 30 days' written notice (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). Tenants on fixed-term leases are protected against increases until the lease expires. Renters should review any lease renewal carefully, as there is no local cap on how much rents can rise.
Massachusetts law provides several strong protections for all renters in Hingham regardless of the absence of local ordinances.
Security Deposits (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 the tenant with written notice of the bank's name and address and the account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit. The landlord must also pay the tenant annual interest on the deposit. Violations of these requirements can entitle the tenant to the immediate return of the deposit plus damages.
Habitability and the State Sanitary Code (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): Every rental unit in Hingham must comply with the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code, which sets minimum standards for heat, hot water, electrical systems, structural integrity, pest control, and more. If a landlord fails to correct code violations, tenants may report violations to the Hingham Board of Health. Depending on the severity of the conditions, tenants may have the right to withhold rent, repair-and-deduct (up to four months' rent in a 12-month period), or terminate the lease under M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L.
Notice to Terminate (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): For month-to-month tenancies, either the landlord or the tenant must give at least 30 days' written notice before the end of a rental period to terminate the tenancy. The notice must be timed to expire at the conclusion of a tenancy period. Landlords who fail to provide proper notice cannot proceed with eviction.
Anti-Retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Massachusetts law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants who report housing code violations, contact a government agency, or exercise any other legal right. Any rent increase, reduction in services, or eviction that occurs within six months of a tenant's protected activity is presumed to be retaliatory. A tenant who successfully proves retaliation may recover up to three months' rent plus attorney's fees.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): Landlords are strictly prohibited from attempting to evict a tenant through self-help measures — including changing the locks, removing doors or windows, or shutting off utilities such as heat, electricity, or water. A landlord who engages in such conduct is liable to the tenant for actual damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees.
Anti-Discrimination (M.G.L. c. 151B): Massachusetts fair housing law prohibits housing discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, ancestry, religion, sex, age, disability, familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, military status, and source of income (including Section 8 vouchers). Tenants who believe they have been discriminated against may file a complaint with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD).
Massachusetts has among the strictest security deposit laws in the United States, and all of those protections apply to Hingham rentals under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Cap on Amount: A landlord in Hingham may not collect a security deposit exceeding one month's rent, regardless of the term of the lease. Prepaid last month's rent, a key deposit, and a security deposit may all be collected at move-in, but the security deposit component alone cannot exceed one month's rent.
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 identifying the bank's name and address and the account number. Failure to do so entitles the tenant to demand the deposit back immediately.
Annual Interest: The landlord must pay the tenant interest on the security deposit each year, at the rate actually earned by the account or 5% per year, whichever is less. Interest may be paid annually or credited toward rent.
Return Deadline: After the tenancy ends, the landlord has 30 days to return the security deposit, along with a written itemized statement of any deductions for damages beyond normal wear and tear. If the landlord also collected last month's rent, a statement of interest owed on that amount must be included.
Penalty for Non-Compliance: A landlord who wrongfully withholds the deposit, fails to return it on time, fails to maintain it in a proper account, or fails to provide required documentation may be liable to the tenant for treble damages (three times the amount wrongfully withheld), plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(7)).
The eviction process in Hingham follows Massachusetts state law, governed primarily by M.G.L. c. 186 (landlord-tenant relations) and M.G.L. c. 239 (summary process — the formal term for eviction proceedings in Massachusetts). Hingham does not have a just cause eviction ordinance, so landlords are not required to provide a specific reason to terminate a month-to-month tenancy.
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: (a) Non-payment of rent: 14-day Notice to Quit (M.G.L. c. 186, § 11); (b) Lease violation: the notice period depends on the lease terms; (c) End of tenancy / no-fault termination: at least 30 days' notice expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). A Notice to Quit is not a court order — it does not require the tenant to leave immediately and does not by itself end the tenancy.
Step 2 — Summary Process Summons and Complaint: If the tenant does not vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord must file a Summary Process Summons and Complaint in the appropriate court — in Hingham, this would typically be the Plymouth District Court. The tenant is served with the court paperwork and given a hearing date.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties appear before a judge. Tenants have the right to raise defenses, including the landlord's failure to maintain habitable conditions, improper notice, or retaliation. If the court rules for the landlord, it will issue an execution after a waiting period (typically 10 days) during which the tenant may appeal or seek a stay.
Step 4 — Execution and Lockout: Only a court-appointed constable or sheriff may physically remove a tenant using a court-issued execution. The landlord has no right to remove the tenant personally.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14, it is unlawful for a landlord to attempt to evict a tenant by any means other than a court proceeding. Changing locks, removing belongings, shutting off utilities, or harassing the tenant to force them to leave are all illegal. A landlord who does so is liable for the greater of actual damages or three months' rent, 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 can change, and the application of any law depends on the specific facts of your situation. Hingham renters who have questions about their rights or are facing an eviction, habitability issue, or security deposit dispute should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization. RentCheckMe makes no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness, or currency of the information provided here.
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.