Office of Housing Stability
We help residents find and maintain stable, safe, and affordable housing.
COVID-19 UPDATE: Due to the current public health emergency, we are not able to accept walk-ins for counseling. We are responding to requests for help that are emailed to housingstability@boston.gov. You can also call 617-635-4200. We thank you for your understanding as we work hard to ensure the health and safety of our staff while continuing to serve Boston residents.
Our office works to prevent displacement. It's our mission to promote housing preservation and stabilization. In that way, the Office of Housing Stability is one of the first of its kind in the nation.
If you're looking for information on affordable housing opportunities in Boston, Metrolist has information on lotteries, resales, and much more.
Have questions? Contact us:
9th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
What we offer
We help tenants in housing crisis due to fire, natural disaster, eviction, or condemnation. We also have information on emergency resources for tenants. Our goal is to put residents on the path to housing stability.
Tenant and Landlord InformationWe provide information to tenants and landlords about their rights and responsibilities.
We develop tenant and landlord resources and programs. We want to promote the creation and preservation of stable and affordable housing in Boston.
Advocacy and PolicyWe research, draft, and put in place policies that aim to prevent displacement. Our goal is to keep our communities intact.
Programs and Initiatives
ProgramsTenant and landlord resources
Learn what to expect when renting in Boston.
Things tenants should know their rights before and while renting
Things landlords should know when renting an apartment
Check out our tips for property owners before you rent out your property.
Short-term rentals in the City of Boston are subject to new regulations starting on January 1, 2019.
A free guided interview for Massachusetts tenants who are being evicted.
Eviction information
Find out about the steps you can take during the court process.
View the entire, printable version of the guide.
View the entire, printable Spanish version of the guide
View the entire, printable Haitian version of the guide
View the entire, printable Chinese version of the guide
Anti-Displacement policies
In January 2019, Mayor Walsh announced a six-piece legislative package focused on housing security. You can learn more about the housing security bills in the Mayor's legislative package:
Building upon his commitment to employ new strategies to preserve and create affordable housing and prevent displacement in Boston’s neighborhoods, Mayor Martin J. Walsh released An Action Plan to Reduce Evictions in Boston in December 2019. This Action Plan presents the recommendations of:
- the Eviction Prevention Task Force, a coalition of non-profit tenant advocacy organizations
- housing service providers
- legal aid organizations
- the real estate community, and
- key City of Boston staff from both the Boston Housing Authority (BHA) and the Department of Neighborhood Development (DND).
The report details the current landscape for evictions in Boston. It recommends an expansion of programs and services that have made an impact in preventing an increase in the number of evictions in Boston, despite the competitive housing market.
Housing Stability Reports
View the 2019 report about evictions in Boston