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Seekonk is a town of roughly 15,000 residents in Bristol County, situated on the Rhode Island border just east of Providence. While smaller than nearby cities, Seekonk has a notable renter population that relies on Massachusetts state law for housing protections — the town has enacted no local tenant ordinances beyond what the state requires.
Renters in Seekonk most commonly seek information about security deposit rules, repair obligations, and what steps a landlord must follow before filing for eviction. Massachusetts provides some of the strongest statewide tenant protections in the country, covering habitability standards, deposit limits, anti-retaliation rules, and eviction procedures — all of which apply fully to Seekonk renters.
This page summarizes those rights and the statutes that govern them. It is intended as an informational resource only and does not constitute legal advice. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or habitability problems, consult a qualified attorney or contact one of the legal aid organizations listed below.
Seekonk has no rent control ordinance. Massachusetts voters passed a statewide ballot initiative (Question 9) in November 1994 that prohibited rent control across the entire Commonwealth, effectively eliminating the rent control programs that had existed in Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline. As a result, landlords in Seekonk may raise rents by any amount, and there is no cap on how frequently increases occur — provided they give the legally required notice before the new rent takes effect.
The state legislature partially reversed course in 2020 when it enacted Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, which removed the blanket preemption and gave municipalities the authority to adopt their own rent stabilization ordinances again. However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts city or town — including Seekonk — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance under that authority. Until Seekonk or the state legislature acts, no limit exists on rent increases for market-rate units.
In practice, this means Seekonk renters on month-to-month leases can receive a rent increase notice at any time, so long as the landlord provides at least 30 days' written notice expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). Tenants with fixed-term leases are protected from increases until the lease expires, at which point the landlord may propose a new rent.
Although Seekonk has no local ordinances, Massachusetts state law provides a robust set of tenant protections that apply to every rental unit in the town.
Security Deposits (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B): A landlord may collect a security deposit of no more than one month's rent. The deposit must be held in a separate, interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank, and the landlord must provide the tenant with written notice of the bank name, address, and account number within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Interest accrues annually at the rate set by the bank, and must be paid to the tenant each year or credited against rent.
Habitability & Repairs (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): Every residential rental unit in Seekonk must comply with the Massachusetts State Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), which sets minimum standards for heat (at least 68°F from September 16 through June 14), hot water, plumbing, electrical systems, and freedom from pests and moisture. If a landlord fails to maintain these conditions, tenants may report violations to the Seekonk Board of Health, withhold rent, pursue a rent-reduction action in Housing Court, or — in severe cases — terminate the lease and recover damages under M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L.
Notice to Terminate (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): For month-to-month tenancies, a landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice to terminate, and the notice must expire on the last day of a rental period (e.g., the last day of the month for monthly tenancies). Tenants must give the same amount of notice to their landlords. Failure to comply with these timing requirements renders the notice ineffective.
Anti-Retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): A landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, commence eviction proceedings, or otherwise retaliate against a tenant for reporting code violations, contacting a government agency, organizing with other tenants, or exercising any other legal right. If a landlord takes an adverse action within six months of a protected act, the law presumes the action was retaliatory. A tenant who proves retaliation is entitled to one to three months' rent, plus attorney's fees and costs.
Lockout & Utility Shutoff Prohibition (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14): Self-help eviction is illegal in Massachusetts. A landlord who removes a tenant's belongings, changes the locks, or intentionally cuts off electricity, heat, or water without a court order is liable to the tenant for actual damages or three months' rent (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees.
Consumer Protection (M.G.L. c. 93A): Unfair or deceptive acts by a landlord — such as knowingly withholding a security deposit in bad faith or making material misrepresentations about a unit — may also violate Massachusetts consumer protection law, exposing the landlord to double or treble damages and mandatory attorney's fees.
Massachusetts has some of the strictest security deposit rules in the country, and all of them apply to rentals in Seekonk under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Cap: The maximum security deposit a landlord may collect is one month's rent, regardless of the length of the lease or the tenant's credit history. Charging more than one month's rent as a deposit is a violation of the statute.
Holding Requirements: Within 30 days of receiving the deposit, the landlord must place it in a separate, interest-bearing savings account at a Massachusetts-chartered bank or institution. The landlord must give the tenant a written receipt showing the bank's name and address, the account number, and the amount deposited. Commingling the deposit with the landlord's personal or business funds is prohibited.
Annual Interest: The deposit earns interest at the rate paid by the bank. The landlord must pay this interest to the tenant annually (or credit it toward the following month's rent) and must pay the full accrued interest when returning the deposit.
Return Deadline: After the tenancy ends, the landlord has 30 days to return the deposit along with any accrued interest. If the landlord intends to make deductions for unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear, they must also provide an itemized written statement of deductions within those same 30 days.
Penalty for Violations: If a landlord fails to return the deposit on time, fails to provide the required itemized statement, or wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit, the tenant is entitled to treble damages (three times the amount wrongfully withheld), plus interest, court costs, and reasonable attorney's fees (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B(7)). A landlord who fails to comply with any of the holding or notice requirements may forfeit the right to retain any portion of the deposit at all.
To lawfully remove a tenant in Seekonk, a landlord must follow the court-supervised eviction process established under Massachusetts law (M.G.L. c. 239, the Summary Process statute). Any attempt to remove a tenant without going through this process is illegal.
Step 1 — Written Notice: Before filing in court, the landlord must serve the tenant with written notice. The type and length of notice depend on the reason for eviction:
Step 2 — Summary Process Summons & Complaint: If the tenant does not vacate after the notice period expires, the landlord may file a Summary Process (eviction) action in the Southeast Housing Court, which has jurisdiction over Bristol County. The landlord files a Summons and Complaint, and the court schedules a hearing — typically within two to three weeks of filing.
Step 3 — Court Hearing: Both parties appear before a Housing Court judge. Tenants have the right to raise defenses, including habitability problems, improper notice, retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18), or violations of the security deposit law. If the landlord prevails, the judge enters a judgment for possession.
Step 4 — Execution and Move-Out: After judgment, there is a mandatory 10-day appeal period. If the tenant does not appeal or vacate, the landlord may obtain an Execution (writ of possession). Only a court-appointed constable or sheriff may carry out the physical removal — the landlord cannot do so personally.
Self-Help Eviction is Illegal: Under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14, a landlord who changes locks, removes doors or windows, shuts off utilities, or removes the tenant's belongings without a court order commits an illegal lockout. The tenant may seek an emergency injunction and is entitled to actual damages or three months' rent (whichever is greater), plus attorney's fees.
Just Cause: Seekonk has no just-cause eviction ordinance. A landlord may terminate a month-to-month tenancy for any reason or no reason, provided proper notice is given. (By contrast, Boston's 2024 Just Cause Eviction Ordinance requires a valid reason to end a tenancy, but that ordinance does not apply in Seekonk.)
This page is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. The information presented here reflects Massachusetts law and Seekonk-specific context as of April 2026, but laws and local ordinances may change. Every tenancy is different, and the application of these laws to your specific situation may vary. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other housing problem, you should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in your area. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not create an attorney-client relationship.
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