Voters passed law at ballot box in 1994 that banned rent control in the state, context not included in the “Yes/No” statement or summary of the question
BOSTON, MA – June 2, 2026 – Last week seventy registered voters working with Housing for Massachusetts filed a legal challenge to the title and “Yes/No” statements that will be printed on the ballot for the rent control ballot question, arguing that they are misleading and not “fair and neutral” as required by Massachusetts general law.
As written, the title and the statements:
- Fail to inform voters that the Petition would repeal the existing law that has prohibited rent control in Massachusetts since 1994 and replace it with mandatory, statewide rent control;
- Inaccurately characterize the amount of the rent cap; and
- Omit key structural features of the proposed law that are essential to an informed vote
“The title and Yes/No statements are misleading and severely oversimplify the question,” said Amir Shahsavari, President of the Small Property Owners Association and lead plaintiff. “Massachusetts voters are entitled to have a complete understanding of what their choices at the ballot box will be, which is why we’re focused on getting the message out that rent mandates hurt small property owners and will worsen the housing crisis.”
The statements leave out that in 1994, voters across Massachusetts went to the polls and banned rent control in the state. The prohibition on rent control is also conspicuously missing from the summary of the 2026 rent mandate ballot question, which was challenged in court in February.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court (SJC) has previously ruled that the court “shall endeavor to ensure that the information provided to voters in the title and one-sentence statements is fair, neutral, and accurate.” The proposed Yes/No statement is woefully insufficient in meeting this standard.
The court challenge asks that the title and “Yes/No” statements be rewritten to fairly inform voters what they are voting on:
Title: “Impose Residential Rent Control”
“A YES VOTE would repeal the existing law that prohibits rent control in Massachusetts and replace it with a new law that limits the annual rent increase for most residential units to the Consumer Price Index or 5%, whichever is lower, calculated from a base rent frozen as of January 31, 2026, with no exceptions for changes in tenancy or increased costs to the property owner.”
“A NO VOTE would make no change in the existing law that prohibits rent control in Massachusetts.”
It’s expected that the SJC will rule on whether the ballot question can move forward before the end of June.
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Housing for Massachusetts is a coalition of Massachusetts citizens, small property owners, family-owned real estate companies, affordable housing developers, and housing advocates. We aim to educate and advocate for policies that support housing creation in Massachusetts, improving availability and affordability for all. Learn more at HousingforMass.com
Media Contact:
Julianne Hester
press@housingformass.com