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Longmeadow is a residential town in Hampden County in western Massachusetts, situated along the Connecticut border just south of Springfield. As a primarily suburban community, Longmeadow has a significant renter population that relies on the protections provided by Massachusetts state law. Renters here most commonly ask about rent increases, security deposit rules, repair obligations, and what their landlord can and cannot do when ending a tenancy.
Massachusetts provides some of the most tenant-protective statutes in the country, including a strict cap on security deposits, strong habitability requirements under the state Sanitary Code, and meaningful anti-retaliation protections. Longmeadow has not enacted any local tenant protection ordinances beyond what the state requires, so Massachusetts general law governs all rental relationships in town.
This page is intended as an informational resource to help Longmeadow renters understand the laws that apply to their situation. Nothing on this page constitutes legal advice. If you have a specific dispute or legal question, contact a licensed attorney or a free legal aid organization such as Community Legal Aid.
Longmeadow has no rent control, and no rent stabilization ordinance of any kind. Massachusetts voters approved a statewide ballot initiative — Question 9 — in November 1994 that repealed all existing rent control ordinances in the state, including those that had been in effect in Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline. Following that vote, the Massachusetts legislature codified the ban and rent control effectively ceased to exist across the state.
In 2020, the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which lifted the statewide prohibition and once again permitted cities and towns to enact local rent stabilization ordinances. However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts municipality — including Longmeadow — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance. As a result, landlords in Longmeadow may raise rents by any amount, at any time, subject only to the notice requirements that apply when a tenancy is being terminated or modified.
In practical terms, this means that if you are a month-to-month tenant in Longmeadow, your landlord can raise your rent at the end of any rental period by providing proper written notice under M.G.L. c. 186, § 12. If you have a fixed-term lease, your landlord generally cannot increase rent until the lease expires unless the lease itself permits earlier increases.
Massachusetts state law provides several strong protections for all renters in Longmeadow:
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 documentation of the account within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Upon move-out, the landlord has 30 days to return the deposit along with an itemized written statement of any deductions. Failure to comply can expose the landlord to liability for three times the amount withheld, plus attorney's fees.
Habitability and the State Sanitary Code (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): All rental units in Massachusetts must meet the minimum standards set by the State Sanitary Code, which covers heat, hot water, electricity, weatherproofing, pest control, and structural integrity. Tenants who believe their unit is substandard may report violations to the Longmeadow Board of Health. If a landlord fails to address serious violations after notice, tenants may have the right to withhold rent, make necessary repairs and deduct costs from rent, or terminate the lease under M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L.
Notice to Terminate a Tenancy (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): A landlord must give a month-to-month tenant at least 30 days' written notice to terminate the tenancy. The notice must be timed so that it expires at the end of a rental period. A tenant on a fixed-term lease is entitled to remain through the end of the lease term unless there is a valid lease violation.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Massachusetts law prohibits landlords from retaliating against tenants for exercising legal rights, such as complaining to a housing authority or board of health, joining a tenant organization, or withholding rent for code violations. Any adverse action — including a rent increase, service reduction, or eviction — taken within six months of a protected act is presumed to be retaliatory, placing the burden on the landlord to prove otherwise. A tenant who prevails on a retaliation claim is entitled to up to three months' rent, plus attorney's fees.
Lockout and Utility Shutoff Prohibition (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): It is illegal in Massachusetts for a landlord to attempt to evict a tenant through self-help measures such as changing locks, removing doors or windows, or shutting off utilities. Violations entitle the tenant to actual damages or three months' rent — whichever is greater — plus attorney's fees.
Massachusetts has some of the most detailed and tenant-protective security deposit laws in the country, and they apply in full to all Longmeadow rental units. The governing statute is M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Cap on Amount: A landlord may not collect a security deposit greater than the equivalent of one month's rent. Collecting more than this amount is itself a violation of the statute.
Separate Account Requirement: The deposit must be placed in a separate, interest-bearing bank account in a Massachusetts financial institution. Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must provide the tenant with written notice of the bank's name, address, and the account number. The landlord must also pay the tenant any accrued interest annually, or credit it toward rent.
Move-In Statement of Condition: At or before the start of the tenancy, the landlord must provide a written statement of the condition of the rental unit. If the tenant does not receive one, the landlord may be limited in their ability to make deductions from the deposit for pre-existing damage.
Return Deadline: The landlord must return the security deposit — along with a written, itemized statement of any deductions and receipts or estimates for repair costs — within 30 days after the tenancy ends.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: If a landlord wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit, fails to return it on time, or violates any procedural requirement of § 15B, the tenant is entitled to recover three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus interest, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees. Even a technical violation — such as failure to provide timely bank account information — can forfeit the landlord's right to make any deductions.
Evictions in Longmeadow are governed by Massachusetts state law, primarily M.G.L. c. 239 (Summary Process) and M.G.L. c. 186. There is no local just cause eviction ordinance in Longmeadow.
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 provide at least 14 days' notice (M.G.L. c. 186, § 11). For a no-fault termination of a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days' notice is required, expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). For lease violations other than nonpayment, the required notice period is typically 30 days.
Step 2 — Summary Process Complaint: If the tenant does not vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord may file a Summary Process (eviction) complaint in the Eastern Hampden Division of the Housing Court or the Hampden County District Court. The tenant will be served with a summons and a hearing date.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both landlord and tenant present their cases before a judge. Tenants have the right to raise defenses, including retaliation, habitability violations, improper notice, or procedural errors in the eviction process. If the court rules in the landlord's favor, it will issue a judgment for possession.
Step 4 — Execution and Move-Out: After a judgment is entered, the tenant typically has a brief period to appeal or vacate. If the tenant remains, the landlord must obtain an Execution from the court and arrange for a constable or sheriff to carry out the physical removal. A landlord may never personally remove a tenant or their belongings.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14, a landlord cannot lock out a tenant, remove doors or windows, or shut off utilities to force a tenant to leave. A tenant subjected to these actions is entitled to recover actual 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 and subject to change; the content here reflects the law as understood in April 2026 and may not reflect subsequent legislative or regulatory changes. If you have a specific legal question or dispute with your landlord, you should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a free legal aid organization such as Community Legal Aid. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and no attorney-client relationship is created by your use of this website.
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