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Somerset is a residential town in Bristol County, Massachusetts, situated along the Taunton River near Fall River. Like renters throughout the Commonwealth, Somerset tenants rely on Massachusetts' robust statewide tenant protection framework, which includes strict security deposit rules, strong habitability standards, and meaningful anti-retaliation protections. There are no additional local tenant ordinances in Somerset beyond what state law provides.
Renters in Somerset most commonly search for information about how much a landlord can raise rent, what protections exist when landlords fail to make repairs, and how the eviction process works under Massachusetts law. Massachusetts General Laws chapter 186 governs most landlord-tenant relationships, while the Massachusetts Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410) sets enforceable minimum habitability standards. Understanding these laws can help Somerset renters protect themselves before, during, and after a tenancy.
This page provides general legal information about tenant rights in Somerset, Massachusetts. It is not legal advice. Laws can change, and every situation is different — if you have a specific legal problem, consult a qualified attorney or contact a free legal aid organization listed at the bottom of this page.
Somerset has no rent control, and landlords may raise rent by any amount with proper notice. Massachusetts voters enacted a statewide ban on rent control through a 1994 ballot initiative (Question 9), which immediately terminated rent control programs that had existed in Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline. That prohibition remained in effect until 2020, when the Massachusetts Legislature passed Chapter 358 of the Acts of 2020, restoring the legal authority for cities and towns to adopt their own rent stabilization ordinances.
However, as of April 2026, no Massachusetts municipality — including Somerset — has enacted a new rent control or rent stabilization ordinance under the 2020 enabling legislation. This means there is currently no cap on how much a landlord in Somerset may increase rent, and no restriction on how frequently increases may occur. The only practical protection for most Somerset renters is the notice requirement: a landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice before a rent increase takes effect at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12).
Renters with fixed-term leases are protected from rent increases until the lease expires, at which point the landlord may offer a renewal at any new price. If you are on a month-to-month tenancy, your landlord may propose a higher rent each month with proper advance notice. Refusing to pay the new rent amount could lead to a termination of tenancy proceeding.
Although Somerset has no local tenant ordinances, Massachusetts state law provides a comprehensive set of protections that apply to every renter in the Commonwealth.
Security Deposit Rules (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B): Massachusetts imposes some of the strictest security deposit requirements in the United States. A landlord may not collect a security deposit exceeding one month's rent. The deposit must be held in a separate, interest-bearing bank account in Massachusetts, and the tenant must receive written notice of the bank name, account number, and interest rate within 30 days of receiving the deposit. Annual interest (or 5%, whichever is lower) must be paid to the tenant. Failure to comply with these rules can void the landlord's right to keep any portion of the deposit.
Habitability and the Sanitary Code (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L; 105 CMR 410): Every Massachusetts landlord is legally required to maintain rental units in compliance with the Massachusetts Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), which sets minimum standards for heat (at least 68°F from September 15 through June 15), hot water, structural integrity, pest control, and more. Tenants who believe their unit violates the Sanitary Code may file a complaint with the Somerset Board of Health. Documented, uncorrected violations may give tenants the right to withhold rent, use the repair-and-deduct remedy (up to four months' rent), or terminate the lease without penalty under M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L.
Notice Requirements for Termination (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12): A landlord must provide at least 30 days' written notice to terminate a month-to-month tenancy. The notice must expire at the end of a full rental period. Tenants on fixed-term leases may remain through the end of the lease term unless they have materially breached it. Oral notice is not sufficient — it must be in writing.
Anti-Retaliation Protection (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18): Massachusetts law strongly prohibits landlord retaliation. A landlord may not raise rent, reduce services, threaten eviction, or otherwise penalize a tenant for reporting code violations, organizing with other tenants, contacting a government agency, or exercising any other legal right. If a landlord takes an adverse action within six months of a tenant's protected activity, that action is legally presumed to be retaliatory. A tenant who successfully proves retaliation may recover up to three months' rent, actual damages, and attorney's fees.
Lockout and 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 deliberately cuts off utilities — without obtaining a court judgment — is liable for actual damages or three months' rent, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees and costs.
Consumer Protection (M.G.L. c. 93A): Serious landlord violations — including certain security deposit abuses and habitability failures — may also constitute unfair or deceptive trade practices under Massachusetts General Laws chapter 93A. A successful c. 93A claim can result in double or triple damages and attorney's fees.
Massachusetts has among the most detailed and tenant-protective security deposit laws in the country, all governed by M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B.
Maximum Amount: A landlord in Somerset may not collect a security deposit exceeding one month's rent. This cap applies regardless of the length of the lease or the landlord's preference. A landlord may also collect first month's rent, last month's rent, and the cost of a new lock and key at move-in, but the security deposit itself cannot exceed one month's rent.
Separate Account and Receipt: The deposit must be deposited in a Massachusetts bank, in a separate interest-bearing account, within 30 days of collection. The landlord must provide the tenant with a written receipt identifying the bank's name and address, account number, and applicable interest rate. Failure to provide this receipt is a violation that may allow the tenant to demand return of the entire deposit immediately.
Move-In Inspection Statement: Within 10 days of the tenancy beginning (or within 10 days of receiving the deposit, whichever is later), the landlord must provide a written statement of the condition of the unit, noting any existing damage. If the landlord fails to provide this statement, the landlord loses the right to deduct for any pre-existing damage.
Return Deadline: The landlord must return the deposit — along with accrued interest — within 30 days after the tenancy ends. If the landlord makes deductions, a written, itemized statement of damages with receipts or repair estimates must accompany any remainder returned.
Penalties for Non-Compliance: If a landlord wrongfully withholds any portion of the deposit, fails to return it within 30 days, or fails to comply with any of the procedural requirements in M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B, the tenant is entitled to treble damages (three times the wrongfully withheld amount), plus reasonable attorney's fees and court costs. These penalties are among the strictest in the nation and are designed to deter landlords from improperly keeping deposits.
A landlord in Somerset must follow a strict legal process to remove a tenant. Self-help eviction — including changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities — is illegal under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14 and exposes the landlord to significant liability.
Step 1 — Written 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:
Step 2 — Summary Process (Eviction) Complaint: If the tenant does not vacate by the deadline in the Notice to Quit, the landlord may file a Summary Process complaint in the Southeast Housing Court (which covers Bristol County, including Somerset). The tenant will receive a Summons and Complaint with a scheduled hearing date.
Step 3 — Answer and Hearing: The tenant has the right to file a written Answer before the hearing date, raising any defenses — such as improper notice, retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18), substandard conditions, or security deposit violations. The case is heard by a judge. Tenants may also raise counterclaims, including claims under M.G.L. c. 93A for unfair practices.
Step 4 — Judgment and Appeal: If the court rules in favor of the landlord, the judge issues a judgment for possession. The tenant then has a period to appeal or request a stay of execution. If no appeal is filed, the landlord may apply for an execution (a court-issued removal order) after 10 days.
Step 5 — Physical Removal: Only a court officer (constable or sheriff) may physically remove a tenant pursuant to a court-issued execution. A landlord who removes a tenant without an execution commits an illegal lockout and may owe the tenant up to three months' rent or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14).
Just Cause Eviction: Massachusetts state law does not require a landlord to have a specific reason (just cause) to end a month-to-month tenancy in Somerset. The landlord must simply provide proper written notice. Boston enacted a local Just Cause Eviction ordinance in 2024, but that ordinance applies only within the city of Boston and has no effect in Somerset.
The information on this page is provided for general educational purposes only and is not legal advice. Tenant rights law is complex and fact-specific, and the laws described here may have changed since the last update in April 2026. RentCheckMe is not a law firm and does not provide legal representation or legal counsel. If you are facing an eviction, a security deposit dispute, or any other housing legal issue in Somerset, Massachusetts, you should consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney or contact a qualified legal aid organization in your area. Do not rely solely on this page when making decisions about your tenancy.
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