Peabody is a mid-size city in Essex County, Massachusetts, situated north of Boston in the Greater Boston metropolitan area. While Peabody has no local rent control or just cause eviction ordinance, renters benefit from robust Massachusetts state law protections that apply uniformly across the Commonwealth. These include a strict one-month cap on security deposits, strong anti-retaliation rules, and habitability requirements enforced through the state Sanitary Code.
Massachusetts voters banned rent control statewide in 1994, and a 2020 law lifted that prohibition — but Peabody has not enacted any new ordinance. Landlords may raise rent by any amount, but must comply with notice requirements and all state tenant protections.
Peabody has no rent control. Massachusetts voters approved a statewide ban on rent control in 1994 (Ballot Question 9), ending programs that had existed in Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline. A 2020 state law (Chapter 358) removed that prohibition and again allows municipalities to enact rent stabilization, but Peabody has not passed such an ordinance as of 2026. Landlords in Peabody may raise rent by any amount, subject only to proper notice and lease terms.
For month-to-month tenants, a landlord must give at least 30 days' written notice before a rent increase takes effect. For fixed-term leases, the rent cannot be changed until the lease expires unless the lease itself permits mid-term adjustments.
Massachusetts state law provides strong baseline protections for all Peabody 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.
Massachusetts has some of the strictest security deposit rules in the country, all governed by M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B. In Peabody, your landlord may not collect more than one month's rent as a security deposit — regardless of your credit history or the property's value. The deposit must be placed in a separate, interest-bearing account at a Massachusetts bank, and within 30 days the landlord must give you written notice identifying the bank and account number.
Upon moving out, your landlord has 30 days to return the full deposit plus accrued interest, or to provide an itemized written statement of any lawful deductions (such as unpaid rent or damage beyond normal wear and tear). If your landlord fails to comply with these rules — for example, by not holding the deposit in the correct type of account or by failing to return it on time — you may be entitled to recover the deposit in full plus up to three times the amount wrongfully withheld, plus attorney's fees.
To evict a Peabody tenant, a landlord must follow Massachusetts's formal Summary Process procedure. The landlord must first serve a written notice to quit — typically 14 days for nonpayment of rent or 30 days for termination of a month-to-month tenancy or a lease violation. If the tenant does not vacate, the landlord must file a Summary Process case in the appropriate Housing Court or District Court. The tenant then has an opportunity to appear and raise defenses.
Self-help eviction is strictly prohibited under M.G.L. c. 186, § 14. A landlord who locks out a tenant, removes doors or windows, or shuts off essential utilities without a court order can be sued for up to three months' rent or actual damages — whichever is greater — plus attorney's fees. Peabody tenants who believe they have been illegally locked out should contact Northeast Legal Aid or call 911 if the situation is urgent.
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 Peabody, Massachusetts and is not legal advice. Laws change — verify current rules with a local attorney or tenant organization.
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