Taunton renters benefit from Massachusetts' strong statewide tenant protections — including a strict one-month security deposit cap with treble damages and robust anti-retaliation rights — even though the city has no local rent control.·Actualizado June 2026
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Puntos Clave
Control de renta: None — Massachusetts has no statewide rent control. Taunton has no local rent ordinances.
Depósito de garantía: Capped at 1 month's rent; must be held in a separate interest-bearing account and returned within 30 days. Violations may result in treble damages (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B).
Aviso de desalojo: Month-to-month tenants must receive at least 30 days' written notice before the landlord can terminate the tenancy, expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12).
Desalojo con causa justa: Massachusetts (outside Boston) does not require just cause to end a tenancy at expiration. Landlords must use the summary process eviction procedure.
Recursos locales: South Coastal Counties Legal Services (sccls.org), Massachusetts Legal Help (masslegalhelp.org)
1. Overview: Tenant Rights in Taunton
Taunton is the county seat of Bristol County in southeastern Massachusetts, located between Providence and Boston. The city has a significant renter population and is within the service area of the MBTA commuter rail. Massachusetts state law — M.G.L. c. 186, the Massachusetts Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410), and M.G.L. c. 239 — governs all rental relationships in Taunton. There are no Taunton-specific rent ordinances, and Massachusetts has no statewide rent control. Despite the absence of rent control, Massachusetts provides some of the strongest baseline tenant protections in the nation, particularly around security deposits and retaliation.
2. Does Taunton Have Rent Control?
Taunton has no rent control ordinance, and Massachusetts currently has no statewide rent control. Landlords in Taunton may raise rent by any amount at lease renewal or when terminating a month-to-month tenancy, provided they give at least 30 days' written notice expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). Fixed-term leases protect tenants from rent increases during the lease term.
3. Massachusetts State Tenant Protections That Apply in Taunton
Massachusetts law provides the following key protections for Taunton tenants:
Security Deposit: The deposit cannot exceed one month's rent and must be held in a separate, interest-bearing Massachusetts bank account. The landlord must provide a written receipt within 30 days identifying the bank and account number. The deposit must be returned within 30 days of move-out with a written, itemized statement. Violations can result in treble (3×) damages plus attorney's fees (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B).
Repairs & Habitability: The Massachusetts Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410) sets minimum standards for heat (minimum 68°F), hot water, structural safety, and pest control. Tenants may report violations to the local board of health. Remedies include rent withholding, repair-and-deduct, and lease termination (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L).
Retaliation Protection: Any adverse landlord action within 6 months of a tenant exercising a legal right is presumed retaliatory, shifting the burden to the landlord to prove otherwise (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18).
Quiet Enjoyment: Willful interference — including illegal lockouts or utility shutoffs — may entitle the tenant to three months' rent or actual damages, whichever is greater (M.G.L. c. 186, § 14).
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.
4. Security Deposit Rules in Taunton
Massachusetts security deposit law (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B) is among the most protective in the United States. Key rules for Taunton tenants:
Cap: The deposit cannot exceed one month's rent — any lease provision requiring more is void and unenforceable.
Separate account: Must be held in a dedicated, interest-bearing Massachusetts bank account. The landlord must provide a written receipt within 30 days identifying the institution, branch, and account number.
Annual interest: The landlord must pay you interest on the deposit annually at the bank's rate or 5% if no interest is earned.
Return deadline: The deposit must be returned within 30 days of move-out with a written, itemized statement of any deductions.
Treble damages: Any violation — wrong account type, missing receipt, late return, or improper deductions — can result in the landlord owing three times the deposit amount plus attorney's fees.
Document the unit's condition at move-in with photos and a written checklist. A landlord's failure to provide a move-in condition statement can limit their ability to claim deductions at move-out.
5. Eviction Process and Your Rights in Taunton
Evictions in Taunton follow Massachusetts summary process law (M.G.L. c. 239). The landlord must first serve a written notice — at least 14 days for nonpayment of rent, or at least 30 days to terminate a month-to-month tenancy, expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). If the tenant does not comply, the landlord files a summary process complaint in Southeast Housing Court (which covers Taunton). The tenant receives a hearing date and may raise defenses including housing code violations, retaliation (M.G.L. c. 186, § 18), and discrimination. Only a constable or sheriff may remove a tenant after a court order and writ of execution. Self-help eviction — lockouts, utility shutoffs, or removing belongings — violates M.G.L. c. 186, § 14 and may entitle the tenant to three months' rent or actual damages, whichever is greater.
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.
6. Resources for Taunton Tenants
South Coastal Counties Legal Services — Free civil legal services for low-income residents of Bristol County including Taunton, covering eviction defense and housing matters.
Massachusetts Legal Help – Housing — Plain-language guides to Massachusetts tenant rights, security deposit law, and the eviction process.
This article provides general information about tenant rights in Taunton and is not legal advice. Laws change — verify current rules with a local attorney or tenant organization.
Verifica tu dirección
Averigua si tu vivienda está cubierta por el control de renta o las protecciones para inquilinos.
No. Taunton has no rent control ordinance, and Massachusetts currently has no statewide rent control. No Massachusetts city has enacted rent control under the 2020 HOME Act. Landlords may raise rent by any amount with proper notice.
How much can my landlord raise my rent in Taunton?
There is no limit on rent increases in Taunton. For month-to-month tenants, at least 30 days' written notice is required before a rent increase or tenancy termination takes effect, expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). A fixed-term lease protects you from increases during the lease term.
How long does my landlord have to return my security deposit in Taunton?
Your landlord must return your security deposit within 30 days of move-out with a written, itemized statement of deductions (M.G.L. c. 186, § 15B). The deposit is capped at one month's rent and must be held in a separate, interest-bearing account. Any violation can result in treble (3×) damages plus attorney's fees.
What notice does my landlord need before evicting me in Taunton?
For nonpayment of rent, at least 14 days' written notice is required. To end a month-to-month tenancy, at least 30 days' written notice is required, expiring at the end of a rental period (M.G.L. c. 186, § 12). The landlord must then file a summary process action in Southeast Housing Court — self-help eviction is illegal.
Can my landlord lock me out or shut off utilities in Taunton?
No. Illegal lockout and utility shutoff violate M.G.L. c. 186, § 14. If your landlord willfully interferes with your quiet enjoyment, you may recover three months' rent or actual damages, whichever is greater, plus attorney's fees. Contact South Coastal Counties Legal Services immediately if this occurs.
What can I do if my landlord refuses to make repairs in Taunton?
Report violations to the Taunton Board of Health, which enforces the Massachusetts Sanitary Code (105 CMR 410). After a board of health inspection order, you may withhold rent, repair-and-deduct, or terminate the lease (M.G.L. c. 111, § 127L). Any landlord retaliation within 6 months of your report is presumed retaliatory under M.G.L. c. 186, § 18. Contact South Coastal Counties Legal Services for free legal help.
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