A Closer Look at Rent Control in Massachusetts
Massachusetts needs more housing. That’s something we can all agree on. But a new rent control ballot proposal could make the shortage even worse. The measure would create one of the toughest rent control laws in the nation, covering every city and town with no opt-out or appeal option.
Rents would be capped at 5% or the Consumer Price Index—whichever is lower. Because property taxes, maintenance, and insurance often rise faster, this would leave many housing providers unable to keep up. It risks freezing rental prices below sustainable levels, discouraging owners from maintaining or building new properties.
Even vacant units couldn’t reset to market rent, which could stall reinvestment and degrade housing quality over time. Baseline rents would even be set before the vote, removing flexibility for those affected.
The Massachusetts Association of Realtors strongly opposes the proposal, citing extensive research showing that rent control does more harm than good. Hear their stance here: MA Assoc. Realtors opinion on Rent Control.
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