Federal & State Tenant Rights
⚖️ Federal & State Tenant Rights
Disclaimer:
This is not legal advice. This is a plain-language summary of tenant rights for educational purposes.
If you are facing eviction, harassment, or retaliation, always seek legal assistance through the union or legal aid.
🏛 Your Rights As A Tenant
Whether you rent an apartment, house, or subsidized unit — you have legal rights.
Many landlords hope you don’t know them. We make sure you do.
🔐 Basic Tenant Rights — Massachusetts Law
✅ The Right to Safe, Habitable Housing:
Your landlord must maintain your apartment so it’s safe, sanitary, and up to code.
- Heat, hot water, electricity, and plumbing must work.
- No mold, pest infestations, or unsafe conditions.
- Lead paint disclosures for older units.
✅ The Right to Repairs:
If something breaks that affects your health or safety, your landlord must fix it within a reasonable time after being notified.
✅ The Right to Withhold Rent (When Repairs Are Not Made):
Under specific conditions, tenants may withhold rent or use rent to pay for repairs — but this must be done carefully. The union can guide members through this.
✅ The Right to Privacy:
Your landlord cannot enter your home without proper notice except in emergencies.
✅ The Right to Protection Against Retaliation:
Landlords cannot punish you for:
- Joining the tenant union.
- Reporting code violations.
- Asking for repairs.
- Filing complaints with housing authorities.
✅ The Right to a Written Notice Before Eviction:
Landlords must serve proper notice before filing for eviction.
✅ The Right to Due Process In Court:
You cannot be legally evicted without going through Housing Court.
✅ Security Deposit Protections:
Landlords must follow strict rules for collecting, holding, and returning security deposits.
✅ Rent Control (Note):
Massachusetts currently has no statewide rent control, but some local efforts exist.
⚖ Federal Tenant Rights
✅ Fair Housing Act (Federal Law):
Landlords may not discriminate based on:
- Race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, or family status.
✅ Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA):
Tenants with disabilities may request reasonable accommodations to fully use and enjoy their housing.
✅ Right to Organize (Federal Protections):
Tenants have a protected right to form tenant unions and organize together.
✅ Section 8 (Federal Housing Vouchers):
Special protections exist for tenants using federal housing subsidies, including rules on rent increases and terminations.
⚠ Common Illegal Landlord Tactics
🚫 Threatening undocumented tenants with immigration status.
🚫 Changing locks or shutting off utilities to force you out.
🚫 Entering without proper notice.
🚫 Filing false eviction cases to scare tenants.
🚫 Retaliating for union activity.
🚫 Harassing Section 8 or voucher tenants unfairly.
📞 Where To Get Legal Help
- The Tenant Union (first stop)
- Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation
- Greater Boston Legal Services
- Northeast Legal Aid
- Housing Court Lawyer for the Day program
- Fair Housing Commission (Boston)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office — Consumer Protection
🛡 The Tenant Union’s Role
- We help you know your rights.
- We support members through retaliation, court, and harassment.
- We connect you to legal aid, attorneys, and housing advocates.
- We organize to defend against illegal landlord behavior.
✅ This is your clean, Notion-ready Federal & State Tenant Rights page.
✅ Written for tenants, not lawyers — but still fully accurate.
