Lowell is a mid-sized city in Middlesex County in the Merrimack Valley region. Like most Massachusetts cities outside Boston, Lowell has no local rent control or just cause eviction ordinance. State law provides the principal tenant protections: a strict security deposit cap, habitability standards under the Sanitary Code, and anti-retaliation provisions. Free legal services are available through Merrimack Valley Legal Services for income-qualifying tenants.
Lowell has no rent control. Massachusetts voters repealed all rent control programs statewide in 1994, and Lowell has not passed a new ordinance under the 2020 law (Chapter 358) that restored local authority to enact rent stabilization. Landlords in Lowell may raise rent by any amount with proper notice.
Massachusetts state law provides these key protections for Lowell 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.
M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B governs security deposits in Lowell. Your landlord may not collect more than one month's rent. The funds must be deposited in a separate, interest-bearing bank account, and the landlord must give you written notice of the bank and account number within 30 days. At move-out, you are entitled to the deposit plus interest within 30 days, along with an itemized statement of deductions. Failure by the landlord to comply may entitle you to the full deposit plus up to three times any amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees.
To evict a Lowell tenant, a landlord must serve a proper written notice: a 14-day notice to quit for nonpayment of rent, or a 30-day notice for other terminations or lease violations (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). If the tenant does not vacate, the landlord must file a Summary Process action in Lowell District Court or Housing Court. Changing locks, removing belongings, or shutting off utilities to force a tenant out is illegal 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 Lowell and is not legal advice. Laws change — verify current rules with a local attorney or tenant organization.
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