The Fight for Rent Control in Massachusetts Takes a Curious Turn

Report: Rent control to raise property taxes

BOSTON — A plan to bring rent control back to Massachusetts would drive up local property taxes, according to a new report by a conservative watchdog group, which warns that rental properties wouldn’t be the only ones affected.

The fight for rent control in Massachusetts takes a curious turn

Organizers behind a rent control ballot question are extending an apparent olive branch to skeptics.

What is Rent Control?

The following is adapted from the Metropolitan Planning Council fact sheet. Rent control is a policy to moderate or stabilize rent increases or curb extreme rent hikes by putting limits to the amount a landlord can increase rent from year to year. Generally, rent stabilization is an effective tool for improving housing stability among renters.

32 years after it was banned, could Massachusetts get rent control back?

32 years after it was banned, could Massachusetts get rent control back? Diana Ionescu Fri, 06/12/2026 - 05:00 Primary Image Primary Image Caption Apartment buildings in Boston, Massachusetts. Massachusetts voters may soon decide whether to bring rent control back for the first time in more than three decades, according to a Shelterforce article. After collecting more than 124,000 signatures, housing advocates have likely secured a spot on the…