City protections
Boston renter rules
No rent control (banned statewide since 1994) - Massachusetts state law is where Boston renters' power lives.
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State law does the work
Massachusetts bans rent control statewide, but state deposit law is among the nation's strictest: separate interest-bearing account, receipts, and triple damages for violations.
30-day late fee grace
No late fee can be charged in Massachusetts until rent is 30 days late - the most renter-friendly grace period in the country.
Winter utility protections
Heat-season rules restrict utility shutoffs, and Boston's inspectional services respond to habitability complaints with real enforcement.
The state layer underneath
City rules sit on top of Massachusetts state law - deposits, entry notice, and eviction process still come from the state.