Massachusetts Voters May Revisit Rent Control in 2026

It has been more than 30 years since Massachusetts voters banned rent control, but it appears they may get a chance to reconsider that decision next year. That is, if rent control supporters can collect 74,574 signatures and have them certified in time for the November 19, 2025, deadline.

Members of Homes for All Massachusetts met the recent deadline to submit signatures from 10 registered voters, the first step in qualifying the ballot initiative for inclusion on the November 3, 2026, statewide ballot.

Homes for All Massachusetts has been unable to convince the Massachusetts Legislature to act on legislation establishing rent control or rent stabilization, and has opted to take the issue directly to the voters in the form of an initiative petition.

Get our free mobile app

What the New Petition Proposes

State House News Service reported, "The initiative petition would similarly limit annual rent increases to the cost of living with a 5% cap, according to a Homes for All Mass advisory."

"There would be exemptions for owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units, plus new buildings for the first decade," SHNS wrote.

According to SHNS, "The cost of living increase last year was 2.9%, which would have been the allowable maximum rent increase in 2025 if the proposed measure had been in place."

Arguments For and Against Rent Control

Boston.com reported, "Opponents of rent control argue that the practice does nothing to spur housing creation and discourages landlords from upgrading their properties."

Homes for All Massachusetts stated, "Since corporate landlords and lawmakers have failed to stabilize our homes, there's currently no limit on how much your rent can increase."

"Corporate landlords are buying out our neighborhoods and raising rents by $200, $500, or even $1,000 overnight," according to the group.