Somerville is a densely populated city in Middlesex County bordering Cambridge and Boston, with one of the highest rental rates in Massachusetts. While the city has active tenant advocacy organizations, there is no local rent control or just cause eviction ordinance as of 2026. State law governs the key tenant protections. The Somerville Community Corporation and Greater Boston Legal Services provide community support and legal help for renters.
Somerville has no rent control. The 1994 statewide ballot initiative ended all Massachusetts rent control programs, and Somerville has not enacted a new ordinance under the 2020 law (Chapter 358). Landlords may raise rent by any amount with proper notice.
Massachusetts state law provides these key protections for Somerville renters:
Broker fees (effective August 1, 2025): A residential rental broker's fee must be paid by the party who hired the broker — typically the landlord. A landlord or property manager may not require a tenant to pay the landlord's broker fee or disguise it as rent. A tenant improperly charged a broker fee can recover up to three times the amount plus attorney's fees (new M.G.L. c. 112, § 87DDD½, enforced through M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B and c. 93A). See the Mass.gov broker's-fee FAQ.
Under M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B, Somerville landlords may not collect more than one month's rent as a security deposit. It must be held in a separate, interest-bearing bank account, and you must receive written notice of the bank and account number within 30 days. At move-out, the deposit plus interest is due within 30 days with an itemized statement of deductions. Non-compliance can result in liability for the full deposit plus up to three times any wrongfully withheld amount, plus attorney's fees.
Somerville landlords must serve proper written notice before filing for eviction: 14 days for nonpayment, or 30 days for month-to-month termination or lease violations (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). If the tenant does not vacate, the landlord must file Summary Process in Middlesex County Housing Court. Self-help eviction — lockouts, utility shutoffs, or property removal — is prohibited under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14.
Eviction record sealing (effective May 5, 2025): Under the Affordable Homes Act (Chapter 150 of the Acts of 2024, amending M.G.L. c. 239), tenants may petition the court to seal certain eviction records. Cases dismissed or decided in the tenant's favor are sealed on petition without a hearing; no-fault cases and satisfied non-payment judgments may be sealed under specified conditions; and fault cases may be sealed after seven years. Consumer reporting agencies may not report sealed eviction records. See Mass.gov eviction sealing.
This article provides general information about tenant rights in Somerville and is not legal advice. Laws change — verify current rules with a local attorney or tenant organization.
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