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Landlord Retaliation Laws in Massachusetts

Massachusetts bars reprisals against tenants who report code violations, complain in writing, take legal action or join a tenants' union, and presumes retaliation for a termination notice, rent increase or major lease change within 6 months.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Massachusetts at a glance

Retaliation banned by statute
Yes
Presumption period
6 months
The presumption can be rebutted only by clear and convincing evidence. Termination notices for nonpayment of rent are excluded.
Protected tenant actions
Code reports, written complaints, legal action, tenant unions
Also covers exercising utility rights under G.L. c. 164, s. 124D and paying rent to a condominium organization under G.L. c. 183A, s. 6(c).

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Massachusetts

Does Massachusetts law prohibit landlord retaliation against tenants?

Yes. Retaliation banned by statute in Massachusetts: yes.

How long after a tenant complaint is retaliation presumed in Massachusetts?

Presumption period in Massachusetts: 6 months. The presumption can be rebutted only by clear and convincing evidence. Termination notices for nonpayment of rent are excluded.

Which tenant actions are protected from retaliation in Massachusetts?

Protected tenant actions in Massachusetts: Code reports, written complaints, legal action, tenant unions. Also covers exercising utility rights under G.L. c. 164, s. 124D and paying rent to a condominium organization under G.L. c. 183A, s. 6(c).

Where do the Massachusetts landlord retaliation laws come from?

The rules above come from Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 186, s. 18. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

A landlord who retaliates is liable for at least 1 month's and up to 3 months' rent, or actual damages if greater, plus costs and reasonable attorney fees.

What this means in practice

Keep a written record of every complaint, repair request and report to a government agency, with dates. A presumption period usually runs from the date of the protected action, so proof of that date can matter.

Retaliation protection does not usually excuse unpaid rent or lease violations. Statutes commonly allow a landlord to raise rent, end a tenancy or evict for a good-faith reason, such as nonpayment, damage to the unit or a rent increase applied to all tenants.

If a rent increase, service cut or eviction notice follows a complaint, read the statute for your state and any local ordinance. Cities and counties may add protections, and a local legal aid office or tenant union can explain how they apply.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.