Could Rent Control Be Coming To Massachusetts?

MASSACHUSETTS — A proposed law that would bring rent control to Massachusetts cleared a key hurdle during the signature-gathering phase of efforts to have those proposals placed on the 2026 statewide ballot.

The law, which would cap annual rent increases to either 5 percent or the increase in the Consumer Price Index — whichever is lower — gained more than 124,000 signatures, according to a USA Today report. That is about 50 more than the 75,000 required to allow the initiative to continue in the ballot process.

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Rent control advocates said the increased support for this initiative — about three decades after rent control was outlawed in the state — is because of steep increases in housing costs, which, combined with increases in other goods and services, make it too difficult for renters to secure stable housing year to year across much of the state.

Those opposed to the law argue that rent increases reflect market conditions and allow property owners to adequately maintain their units while allowing them to cover their own cost increases in taxes, maintenance and utilities.

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If passed, the law would take effect based on rates as of Jan. 31, 2026.

The rent control law was one of 44 proposals that had advocates out collecting signatures in front of grocery stores, shopping malls and other high-traffic locations in recent weeks.

Other proposals included those to lower the state's income and sales tax, eliminate the gas tax, require photo IDs for voting, repeal the MBTA Community Act zoning law and make changes to state laws related to marijuana and other recreational drug use.

The proposals that received the 74,545 verified signatures required will then be forwarded to the state legislature in January for consideration before the first Wednesday of May 2026.

If the legislature does not enact a proposal, proponents must gather 12,429 additional signatures to have the law proposals placed on the November 2026 ballot.

A full list of ballot initiatives and their summaries through the AG's Office can be found here.

(ScottSouza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)