It has been more than 30 years since Massachusetts voters banned rent control, but it appears they may get a chance to reconsider that decision next year. That is, if rent control supporters can collect 74,574 signatures and have them certified in time for the November 19, 2025, deadline.
Members of Homes for All Massachusetts met the recent deadline to submit signatures from 10 registered voters, the first step in qualifying the ballot initiative for inclusion on the November 3, 2026, statewide ballot.
Homes for All Massachusetts has been unable to convince the Massachusetts Legislature to act on legislation establishing rent control or rent stabilization, and has opted to take the issue directly to the voters in the form of an initiative petition.
What the New Petition Proposes
State House News Service reported, “The initiative petition would similarly limit annual rent increases to the cost of living with a 5% cap, according to a Homes for All Mass advisory.”…