Housing is a human right!
By putting rent stabilization on the ballot, we have the power to ensure stable homes and strong communities across Massachusetts. Join us!
Whether we rent or own, live in a city or a small town, are just starting out or are rooted for decades, we all deserve a safe, stable place to call home. Everyone benefits when Massachusetts residents have stable housing they can afford.
WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE SJC DECISION
On June 23, 2026, the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court ruled that our rent stabilization question can't appear on the November 2026 ballot.
What the court actually decided: nothing about rent stabilization itself. The ruling came down to one drafting detail, the exemption for facilities run solely for educational, religious, or nonprofit purposes. The court found that this exemption relates to religion, which Article 48 of the state constitution excludes from ballot initiatives. The challenge was brought by a coalition of real estate and landlord interests.
What it doesn't change:
124,000+ signatures collected by volunteers across the state
55% average rent increase for a two-bedroom since 2010
The need for relief. Rents are still going up, and so are we
This is a setback, not the end of our campaign.
Why do we need Rent Control ?
Corporate real estate investors are driving up housing costs to boost their profits, at the expense of everyday Massachusetts residents who are struggling to make ends meet.
From Boston to Springfield, predatory landlords are pushing workers and seniors out of their communities, forcing people to work multiple jobs just to pay rent, and making it impossible for young people and families to save for a home of their own.
Right now there's no limit on how much landlords can raise rent each year. From Worcester to Lynn, landlords have been raising rents by hundreds of dollars a year, and sometimes doubling them overnight.
Since 2010, rent for a two-bedroom in Massachusetts is up 55% on average. That makes us the third most expensive state in the nation, and most renters here pay a rent they struggle to afford.
WHAT OUR POLICY WOULD DO
Rent stabilization is an immediate lifeline. It protects our neighbors from predatory rent hikes and gives families room to breathe. The policy we've been fighting for would:
Limit annual rent increases to the cost of living, capped at 5%. For a $2,000/month apartment, that's no more than $100/month more per year.
Prevent predatory evictions by prohibiting drastic rent spikes between tenants, so landlords have no incentive to push people out.
Support small landlords, not big corporations, by exempting owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units.
Keep housing production going by applying rent limits to new construction only after a building's first 10 years.
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