Some of the many misconceptions about this proposed rent control question in Massachusetts are that it’s an opt-in measure, or that it only impacts cities like Boston, or that it only applies to large multi-family properties.
The truth is that this question, with some minor exceptions, will apply to every single residential dwelling unit that is rented out in Massachusetts.
Not just every apartment building, not just every city – every single residential dwelling unit in every community in Massachusetts.
Do you own a three-family in Dorchester that you rent out? Covered.
Do you own a condo in Newburyport that you rent out? Covered.
Do you own and rent out a single family home in Sharon or Belchertown or Yarmouth? Covered, covered, covered.
If a rental property of any size is in a building more than ten years old that is not owner occupied – it will be covered under this question.
And what happens when rents are capped? The value of that property is also capped. And the property tax revenue that the property generates for a local community is capped.
This morning, the Center for State Policy Analysis at Tufts University released a new report that estimates the impact of the proposed ballot question on property taxes in all 351 communities in Massachusetts. The results are staggering.
Some of the conclusions?
“Almost immediately, the 2026 rent control ballot question would upend the real estate market, shrinking the residential property tax base by 6-9 percent in municipalities all across the Commonwealth.”
“After a decade, property values would decrease by nearly 14 percent — costing home- and property-owners roughly $300 billion.”
“The effects of rent control would be permanent, amounting to a sustained loss of investment for homeowners and a durably shrunken tax base for cities and towns.”
In my own hometown of Brockton, the report estimates an 8% decrease in property value by 2029 and a 15.96% drop by 2036. A drop like that means deep cuts to our municipal budget.
Read the report and see the impact on your own community here.
Join the conversation on LinkedIn here.
