New Bedford is a port city in Bristol County with a significant renter population. The city has no local rent control or just cause eviction protections, and Massachusetts state law provides the primary tenant rights framework. South Coastal Counties Legal Services offers free legal assistance to eligible renters in the New Bedford area.
New Bedford has no rent control. Massachusetts voters repealed all rent control programs statewide in 1994, and New Bedford has not acted under the 2020 law (Chapter 358) to enact a new ordinance. Landlords may raise rent by any amount with proper written notice.
Massachusetts state law provides these key protections for New Bedford 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, New Bedford landlords may not collect more than one month's rent as a security deposit. The funds 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 must be returned 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 amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees.
Evictions in New Bedford require proper written notice — a 14-day notice to quit for nonpayment, or a 30-day notice for month-to-month termination or lease violations (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12) — followed by a Summary Process filing in Bristol County Housing Court if the tenant does not vacate. Self-help eviction 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 New Bedford and is not legal advice. Laws change — verify current rules with a local attorney or tenant organization.
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