Revere is a coastal city in Suffolk County, Massachusetts, directly north of Boston. Despite sharing a county with Boston — which enacted a just cause eviction ordinance in 2024 — Revere itself has no local rent control, just cause eviction requirements, or city-specific tenant protections beyond state law. Revere renters are governed by Massachusetts' statewide landlord-tenant framework, which provides strong baseline protections through M.G.L. c. 186 and the State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410).
Located near Boston, Revere tenants benefit from proximity to major legal aid organizations and housing advocacy resources. The Eastern Housing Court, which serves Suffolk County, handles eviction and landlord-tenant cases for Revere renters. Understanding state law is essential, as Massachusetts provides some of the nation's strongest tenant protections on issues like security deposits, habitability, and retaliation.
Massachusetts banned rent control through ballot Question 9 in 1994. While the state legislature lifted this prohibition through Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, allowing municipalities to adopt their own ordinances, Revere has not enacted rent control. Rent in Revere is determined by the market, and landlords may set and raise rents without any local regulatory constraint.
For month-to-month tenants, rent increases require adequate written notice before the new amount takes effect. Fixed-term lease rents remain locked in until the lease expires. A rent increase occurring within six months of a tenant's exercise of legal rights — such as filing a Board of Health complaint — is presumed retaliatory under M.G.L. c. 186, § 18, and the landlord bears the burden of disproving retaliation in any resulting court proceeding.
Massachusetts' State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410) establishes comprehensive housing standards for every rental unit in Revere. Landlords must provide minimum heat of 68°F between September 16 and June 14, maintain working plumbing and electrical systems, supply hot water, keep units free from pests and structural hazards, and ensure adequate weatherproofing. Tenants may report violations to the Revere Board of Health, which can inspect and issue compliance orders.
Massachusetts' anti-retaliation statute (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18) provides a six-month legal presumption of retaliation whenever a landlord raises rent, reduces services, or initiates eviction following a tenant's protected activity. Protected activities include reporting code violations, contacting government agencies, and organizing with other tenants. Successful retaliation claims in court can result in rent abatement and an award of attorney's fees against the landlord.
Massachusetts' security deposit law (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B) limits deposits to one month's rent statewide, including in Revere. The landlord must deposit the funds in a separate, interest-bearing bank account within 30 days and must provide written notice of the institution and account number. Landlords must also provide tenants with a statement of the unit's condition at the time of move-in, signed by the landlord.
At move-out, the landlord has 30 days to return the deposit plus interest and provide a written, itemized statement of any deductions. Failure to meet any requirement of the statute — including the 30-day deadline, the separate account rule, or the documentation requirements — can cause the landlord to lose the right to make deductions entirely. Willful violations entitle the tenant to treble the amount wrongfully withheld, plus court costs and attorney's fees. Tenants should document unit conditions with photographs and written records at move-in and move-out.
To evict a tenant in Revere, a landlord must serve a proper written notice to quit. For nonpayment of rent, the notice period is 14 days. For a no-fault termination of a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days' written notice is required, expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). After the notice period expires, the landlord must file a summary process action in the Eastern Housing Court, which serves Suffolk County.
Tenants named in an eviction proceeding have the right to appear and contest the action. Common defenses include retaliation, breach of the implied warranty of habitability, and procedural defects in the notice or summons. A court judgment is required before any marshal may remove a tenant or their belongings. Self-help eviction — changing locks, removing property, or shutting off utilities without a court order — is illegal and may result in damages of at least three months' rent under Massachusetts law.
Revere renters have access to Greater Boston Legal Services (gbls.org), one of the largest legal aid organizations in the region, which provides free civil legal assistance to income-eligible clients throughout Suffolk County. MassLegalHelp (masslegalhelp.org) offers comprehensive self-help guides on eviction, security deposits, and repair rights. The Massachusetts Attorney General's Office (mass.gov/ago) publishes a tenant rights guide and accepts complaints about illegal landlord practices.
The Revere Board of Health handles State Sanitary Code complaints and can order landlords to make repairs. The Boston Tenant Coalition (bostontenant.org) also provides tenant education and advocacy resources that may be useful to Revere renters. The Eastern Housing Court provides self-help resources for unrepresented tenants facing eviction proceedings.
This article is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Massachusetts landlord-tenant law is complex; consult a licensed attorney or legal aid organization for advice tailored to your situation. Laws may change — verify current statutes at mass.gov or masslegalhelp.org.
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