Major Labor Unions Endorse ‘Keep Massachusetts Home’ Rent Control Ballot Campaign
2026 rent stabilization ballot initiative would limit annual rent increases in Massachusetts to the cost of living, with a cap at 5%
Labor unions representing more than 270,000 Massachusetts workers are endorsing the ‘Keep Massachusetts Home’ campaign to stabilize rents in Massachusetts by limiting annual rent increases to no more than 5%, in a strong show of support from working families across the state for the modern rent stabilization ballot initiative.
"Working families are fed up with massive rent hikes that make it impossible to stay afloat. We've had enough of corporate real estate investors driving up the price of housing and forcing working families out of the communities we call home," said Dave Foley, President of the SEIU Massachusetts State Council, representing 120,000 members in health and human services, property services, public service, and higher education. "Without bold action to slow the rising cost of housing, the essential workers who keep Massachusetts going won't be able to afford to live here. By supporting rent stabilization, we're demanding basic protections against excessive rent hikes to keep people in their homes and stabilize communities all across the state."
“Our members know firsthand the way that housing costs have gotten out of control in Massachusetts. Every wage increase gets quickly eaten up by rising rent costs, preventing all of us from getting ahead and reaching full financial stability,” said Fernando Lemus, President of the 10,000-member UFCW Local 1445. “Building new housing is crucial, but we’re so far behind it will take years to bring down costs on existing housing stock. We need rent control so our members can plan ahead and we can make an informed decision on every contract, to know how wage increases will stack up. We’re excited to be a part of this coalition and ensure that everyone can have a place to live without spending half their income every month.”
“Students need the stability of a secure home in order to learn. But when corporate real estate investors can hike a family’s rent by hundreds of dollars overnight, children are forced to abruptly move and switch schools, which can disrupt their education. At the same time, the educators working in our communities can’t afford to call them home,” said Max Page, President of the 117,000-member Massachusetts Teachers Association. “No student should ever be ripped out of their school community so that an investor can turn a greater profit. Passing rent stabilization will protect Massachusetts families from excessive rent increases and help stabilize our communities, so educators, students and their families can put down roots in their community and stay close to their friends, families, and teachers.”
“Whether we rent or own, workers know that our communities are stronger when everyone can afford a roof over their heads. Unions built the middle class, and we know that it's not possible without stable housing,” said Dan Rourke, chair of the 14,600-member UAW Region 9A MA CAP Council. “But for years, we've seen our friends, family members, and coworkers forced out of their homes by rents that go up faster than wages. Placing reasonable limits on rent increases will deliver the stability that workers across Massachusetts need to pay their bills, get ahead, and save up for a down payment on a home. Rent stabilization is an essential step towards a stronger economy that works for all, not just those at the very top.”
“In each of the past several years, over 5,000 Boston students were homeless for some time because the high cost of housing is forcing families out of their homes and neighborhoods. Our students and their families need protections against excessive rent hikes,” said Erik Berg, President of the 10,000-member Boston Teachers Union. “At the same time, many Boston teachers and paraprofessionals struggle to live in the neighborhoods where we teach, because our rents keep going up. And when we try to buy a home so we can put down roots here, we’re competing with corporate real estate speculators who drive up the price of housing so they can make a bigger profit. It’s time to take on the corporate real estate investors that are harming our communities and win rent stabilization for families in Boston and across Massachusetts.”
The ballot initiative, An Initiative Petition to Protect Tenants by Limiting Rent Increases, would limit annual rent increases in Massachusetts to the cost of living, with a cap at 5%. For an apartment that costs $2,000 per month, that means an annual increase in monthly rent of no more than $100/month.
The limit on rent increases would continue to apply when new renters move in, meaning rent could not be drastically increased between tenants. The ballot initiative would support small landlords, not big corporations, by exempting owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units. And it would encourage housing production and economic growth by applying rent limits to new construction only after a building’s first 10 years.
Last month, Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell certified that the proposed rent stabilization ballot initiative meets the constitutional requirements to appear on the ballot, despite a failed challenge by several corporate real estate groups and right-wing legal organizations.