Housing Stability Notification Act

The Housing Stability Notification Act requires any landlord to provide renters with a Notice of Tenant’s Rights and Resources when planning to end a tenancy agreement.

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Mayor's Office of Housing

Housing Stability
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617-635-4200
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BOSTON, MA 02108

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Landlord Requirements

The Housing Stability Notification Act requires ALL LANDLORDS planning to end a tenancy agreement to provide the tenant with a Notice of Tenants’ Rights and Resources.

Step 1

Notify the Tenant: The Notice of Tenants’ Rights and Resources should be delivered at the same time as the Notice to quit or Notice of non-renewal of lease.

You can download and print the document below. The Notice of Tenants' Rights and Resources is available in 12 languages:

Notice of Tenants' Rights and Resources (English)

Also available in Spanish (Español), Simplified Chinese (中文), Haitian Creole (Kreyòl ayisyen), Traditional Chinese (繁體中文), Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt), Portuguese (Português), French (Français), Cape Verdean Creole (Kriolu Kabuverdianu), Somali (Soomaali), Russian (русский), and Arabic (عربى).

Step 2

Notify the City: The Housing Stability Notification Act also requires landlords and foreclosing owners to complete the Notice to Quit / Non-renewal of Lease Submission Verification Form. Landlords must use this online form to provide tenant contact information and upload a copy of the Notice to Quit or Notice of Non-renewal of Lease.

Submit through our online portal

You are required to submit this information using our online portal. Failure to submit this information may result in a fine up to $300 per day. If you're having difficulty using the portal, please email housingstability@boston.gov.

Reporting a Landlord

Follow these steps if your landlord did not deliver the Notice of Tenants' Rights and Resources with the Notice to Quit.

Violations of the act are investigated by the Office of Fair Housing and Equity. They are enforced by the Inspectional Services. Inspectional Services will issue a ticket to your landlord if the required information is not provided to you and you properly report the violation.

To issue a ticket, you will need to do the following:

Call Fair Housing at 617-635-2500. Explain that you are calling to report a violation of the new Housing Stability Notification Act. You can also call 311 and ask for Fair Housing.
Fair Housing may direct you to submit your information through an online intake form available on their website. If you are unable to use the online form, you may submit any required documents through the mail to: City of Boston, Office of Fair Housing and Equity, 1 City Hall Square, Rm. 966 Boston, MA 02201
Provide Fair Housing with a copy of the Notice to Quit or Court Complaint. They will also need your landlord or property manager’s contact information.

Unless otherwise provided, a person or entity violating any provisions of this Ordinance shall be punishable by a warning or fine in accordance with the provisions of City of Boston Ordinances and/or Boston City Charter, shown below.

Housing Stability Notification Act (Sec. 10-11.7)

Enforcement Entity: Inspectional Services Department

1st Offense: Warning

2nd and Subsequent Offenses: $300 per day

If a landlord violates the act, it DOES NOT halt the eviction process.