Local landlord and tenant rules in Somerville, Massachusetts
Somerville, Massachusetts has local rules on other landlord obligations (Somerville Notice of Building Sale Ordinance (in force October 14, 2026)), on top of Massachusetts law.
Local rules in Somerville, Massachusetts
Other landlord obligations
Since October 14, 2026, a Somerville rental property owner who puts the residence on the market must, within 48 hours, give every tenant the City’s Notice of Building Sale — delivered in person with a signed acknowledgment or by certified mail, and posted where tenants can see it — stating the intent to sell, the owner’s contact details, the property, the asking price and the Office of Housing Stability’s contact information.
Source: Somerville Notice of Building Sale Ordinance (in force October 14, 2026). Checked on November 11, 2026.
Other landlord obligations
Converting a Somerville rental to a condominium needs a permit from the City’s Condominium Review Board, and the tenants must be told of the intent to convert first. A tenant has a one-year notice period — five years if elderly, disabled or of low or moderate income — and one who moves out within it is owed a relocation payment per unit: $14,000, or $18,000 for an elderly, disabled or low- or moderate-income tenant, as of October 1, 2025, adjusted each year by the Consumer Price Index. Since that date an owner must also give the Board two years’ notice, up from one, before a final permit for a vacant unit that used to be rented.
Source: Somerville Condominium Conversion Ordinance (Code of Ordinances ch. 7, §§ 7-64, 7-67), as updated effective October 1, 2025; Condominium Review Board FAQ (November 5, 2025). Checked on November 12, 2026.
Massachusetts rules that apply in Somerville
| Rule | Massachusetts |
|---|---|
| How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in Massachusetts? | 30 days |
| How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in Massachusetts? | 1 month of rent |
| Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in Massachusetts? | 5% a year, or the lower rate the bank actually paid, on a deposit held a year or longer, paid at the end of each year of the tenancy. |
| How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in Massachusetts? | 30 days |
| How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in Massachusetts? | 30 days |
| How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in Massachusetts? | 14 days |
| Is there a grace period for paying rent in Massachusetts? | 30 days |
| How much can a landlord charge for a rental application fee in Massachusetts? | Not permitted |
Every Massachusetts rule Seayora publishes.
The homes these rules cover in Somerville
65.8% of the occupied homes in Somerville are rented, about 23,483 households, a share higher than across Massachusetts (37.5%).
The median gross rent is $2,517 a month, higher than across Massachusetts ($1,762); that is what households report paying, utilities included, not the asking rent for a vacant apartment.
36.2% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
79.7% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Somerville | Middlesex County | Massachusetts | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 65.8% (±1.8 points) | 38.7% | 37.5% |
| Median gross rent | $2,517 (±$64) | $2,201 | $1,762 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 36.2% (±3.0 points) | 47.1% | 51.8% |
| Median income of renter households | $120,492 (±$6,667) | $84,135 | $60,987 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 79.7% (±2.6 points) | 68.2% | 67.4% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 29.9% (±2.0 points) | 25.5% | 22.2% |
| Rental vacancy rate | 1.6% (±0.7 points) | 3.4% | 3.5% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 40.7% (±1.7 points) | 24.7% | 22.5% |
All housing figures for Somerville: rent by bedrooms, home values, property taxes, commute.
Source: US Census Bureau, Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — Somerville. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Questions about Somerville’s local rules
What else does Somerville require of landlords?
Since October 14, 2026, a Somerville rental property owner who puts the residence on the market must, within 48 hours, give every tenant the City’s Notice of Building Sale — delivered in person with a signed acknowledgment or by certified mail, and posted where tenants can see it — stating the intent to sell, the owner’s contact details, the property, the asking price and the Office of Housing Stability’s contact information. (Somerville Notice of Building Sale Ordinance (in force October 14, 2026)) Converting a Somerville rental to a condominium needs a permit from the City’s Condominium Review Board, and the tenants must be told of the intent to convert first. A tenant has a one-year notice period — five years if elderly, disabled or of low or moderate income — and one who moves out within it is owed a relocation payment per unit: $14,000, or $18,000 for an elderly, disabled or low- or moderate-income tenant, as of October 1, 2025, adjusted each year by the Consumer Price Index. Since that date an owner must also give the Board two years’ notice, up from one, before a final permit for a vacant unit that used to be rented. (Somerville Condominium Conversion Ordinance (Code of Ordinances ch. 7, §§ 7-64, 7-67), as updated effective October 1, 2025; Condominium Review Board FAQ (November 5, 2025))
This is a summary of the local rules Seayora has read from each place’s own code, not legal advice. Ordinances change and a rule may have exceptions; check the citation and the office named before acting.