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Hull is a small coastal town on the South Shore of Massachusetts, situated on a narrow peninsula in Plymouth County. While Hull's year-round renter population is modest, seasonal and long-term renters alike benefit from Massachusetts's robust statewide tenant protections, which are among the most comprehensive in the United States.
Renters in Hull most commonly have questions about security deposit rules, what to do when a landlord fails to make repairs, and how much notice they must receive before being asked to leave. Massachusetts law provides clear, enforceable answers to each of these questions, backed by statutory penalties that give tenants real leverage.
This article is intended as an informational overview of the laws that apply to renters in Hull, MA. It is not legal advice. Laws can change, and individual circumstances vary — if you face an eviction, a dispute over your deposit, or unsafe housing conditions, consult a qualified attorney or contact a legal aid organization listed at the bottom of this page.
Hull has no rent control, and Massachusetts state law currently does not require it anywhere in the state. Rent control was banned across Massachusetts by a statewide ballot initiative — Question 9 — passed by voters in November 1994. That referendum prohibited any city or town from maintaining or enacting rent control ordinances, effectively ending programs that had existed in Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline.
In 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 358, which repealed the 1994 statewide preemption and theoretically allows municipalities to enact rent stabilization again. However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts city or town — including Hull — has passed a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. Hull renters therefore have no legal ceiling on rent increases between lease terms.
In practice, this means a landlord in Hull can raise rent to any amount at the end of a lease term or upon proper notice for a month-to-month tenancy. Tenants are not obligated to accept an increase and may choose to vacate with proper notice. While there is no cap on rent increases, landlords cannot raise rent in retaliation for a tenant exercising a legal right — that protection remains firmly in place under M.G.L. c. 186, § 18.
Massachusetts provides a strong framework of tenant protections that apply fully to renters in Hull. The key protections are summarized below.
Security Deposit (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B): Massachusetts law caps security deposits at one month's rent. The deposit must be held in a separate, interest-bearing bank account, and the landlord must provide the tenant with a written receipt identifying the bank and account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Upon move-out, the landlord has 30 days to return the deposit with an itemized written statement of any deductions. Failure to comply can expose the landlord to treble damages plus attorney's fees.
Habitability and the State Sanitary Code (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): Every landlord in Massachusetts must maintain rental housing in compliance with the State Sanitary Code, which sets minimum standards for heat (at least 68°F from September 15 through June 15), hot water, structural integrity, pest control, ventilation, and more. Tenants who believe conditions violate the code can report violations to Hull's local board of health. If a landlord fails to address serious violations after notice, tenants may have the right to withhold rent, terminate the lease, or arrange repairs and deduct the cost from rent, subject to procedural requirements 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 to end the tenancy, and that notice must be timed to expire at the end of a rental period. A landlord who gives inadequate notice cannot lawfully proceed with an eviction based on that notice.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Landlords are prohibited from raising rent, reducing services, or initiating eviction proceedings in retaliation for a tenant reporting housing code violations, contacting a government agency, organizing with other tenants, or exercising any other legal right. Critically, any adverse action taken within six months of a protected act is legally presumed to be retaliatory, shifting the burden to the landlord to prove otherwise.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): A landlord may not remove a tenant's belongings, change the locks, shut off utilities, or otherwise attempt to force a tenant out without going through the formal court eviction process. Such self-help evictions are illegal in Massachusetts, and a tenant subjected to them may sue the landlord for damages of three months' rent or three times the actual damages, 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, age, familial status, source of income (including housing vouchers), and several other protected classes — protections that exceed federal fair housing law in important ways.
Massachusetts has some of the strictest security deposit rules in the country, and they apply in full to rentals in Hull.
Cap on Amount: Under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(1)(b), a landlord may not require a security deposit greater than the equivalent of one month's rent. Any amount collected beyond that limit is unlawful.
Holding Requirements: The deposit must be deposited in a Massachusetts bank in a separate interest-bearing account within 30 days of receipt. The landlord must give the tenant a written receipt that includes the name of the bank, the branch, and the account number. The tenant earns interest on the deposit at the rate paid by the account, and the landlord must either pay that interest annually or credit it toward rent.
Condition Statement: Within 10 days of receiving the deposit (or before the tenant moves in, whichever is later), the landlord must provide a written statement of the condition of the premises. If the landlord fails to provide this statement, the landlord generally cannot make deductions from the deposit for pre-existing damage.
Return Deadline and Itemized Statement: After the tenant vacates, the landlord has 30 days to return the deposit, along with a written itemized list of any deductions and supporting documentation such as receipts. If the landlord misses the 30-day deadline, fails to provide the itemization, or wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit, the tenant is entitled to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus interest, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(7)).
Last Month's Rent: Landlords in Massachusetts may also collect a last month's rent payment in advance, but this is governed separately from the security deposit. Last month's rent is also subject to interest at 5% per year and must be returned if the tenancy ends before the prepaid month.
In Massachusetts, a landlord must follow a strict legal process to evict a tenant. Self-help evictions — including changing the locks, removing doors or windows, shutting off utilities, or removing the tenant's belongings — are illegal under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14 and can expose the landlord to significant damages.
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 at least 14 days' notice (M.G.L. c. 186, § 11). For lease violations other than nonpayment, a 30-day notice is typically required. For a no-fault termination of a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days' notice must be given, expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). Tenants have the right to cure a nonpayment of rent by paying the full amount owed before the notice expires, which stops the eviction at that stage.
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 appropriate Massachusetts Housing Court or District Court. Hull is within the jurisdiction of the Southeast Housing Court. The tenant receives a Summons and Complaint with a scheduled court date.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties appear before a judge. Tenants have the right to raise defenses, including violations of the State Sanitary Code, improper notice, retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18), and failure to comply with security deposit law (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B). Tenants may also request a jury trial. If the landlord prevails, the court issues a judgment for possession.
Step 4 — Execution and Move-Out: After judgment, the landlord must wait at least 10 days before obtaining an Execution — the court order authorizing a constable to remove the tenant. Tenants facing hardship may request a stay of execution of up to six months (or 12 months if elderly or disabled) under M.G.L. c. 239, § 9.
Just Cause Eviction: Hull has no just-cause eviction ordinance. Unlike Boston, which enacted a Just Cause Eviction Ordinance in 2024, Hull landlords are not required to provide a specific reason to terminate a month-to-month tenancy, beyond giving proper notice. However, as noted above, a termination that is retaliatory is still unlawful under M.G.L. c. 186, § 18.
The information on this page is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Tenant rights laws are subject to change, and their application depends on the specific facts of each situation. Renters in Hull, Massachusetts facing eviction, security deposit disputes, habitability issues, or other housing concerns should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a legal aid organization for advice tailored to their circumstances. RentCheckMe makes no warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of this information and is not responsible for actions taken in reliance on it.
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