Rent control laws limit the amount a landlord can increase rents on existing tenants. Most states have laws that prohibit local governments from enacting rent control measures. But over 180 municipalities in the United States have rent control measures—and all of them are located in California, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Washington, D.C.
The state of Oregon has a statewide rent control law that limits annual rent increases to 7% plus the increase in the consumer price index.
As of my knowledge cutoff in early 2023, Massachusetts does not have statewide rent control laws. Rent control was effectively banned in Massachusetts in 1994 when the state passed a law that prohibits rent control unless the state legislature specifically authorizes it. This came after a ballot initiative where voters decided to eliminate existing rent control laws that were in place in cities like Boston, Cambridge, and Brookline. Since then, there have been discussions and legislative attempts to reintroduce rent control or rent stabilization measures in the state, but none have been successful. Therefore, landlords in Massachusetts are generally free to set and increase rents as they see fit, subject to any contractual agreements with tenants and provided they comply with other relevant laws, such as anti-discrimination statutes and laws requiring notice before rent increases.