Massachusetts Rent Increase Notice

What Massachusetts law says

• Mass.gov Attorney General guide: the rent can change with notice according to the same terms, 30 days or one month before the next rent payment.
• c.186 Sec. 12: ending a tenancy at will takes three months' notice, or if rent is due more often than every three months, the rent interval or thirty days, whichever is longer.
• Mass.gov: during a lease term, the monthly rent will stay the same.
• The page we read does not mention rent control.

Steps for a landlord

• Put the rent change in writing.
• Give at least 30 days, or one rental period, before the next rent date.
• Check the lease before changing rent in a fixed term.
• Keep proof of delivery.

What to put in the notice

• The tenants' names and the rental address
• The current rent and the new rent
• The date the new rent starts, after the required notice period
• The date of the notice and how it was delivered
• Your name and signature

Things to watch

• The pages we read do not say how the rent-increase notice must be delivered.
• Notice rules for ending a tenancy at will differ between sections we read; check c.186 Sec. 12 or a local attorney.
• Cities and counties can add their own rules, including rent control and extra notice requirements. Check your local rules too.

About this page

We checked this page against the official sources listed below in November 2026. Where an official page did not say something, we say so. Laws change and courts read them differently, so confirm the current rule with the statute, the court or a local attorney before you act. This is general information, not legal advice.