Office of Housing Stability
We help residents find and maintain stable, safe, and affordable housing.
Mayor Walsh has signed the Housing Stability Notification Act. The Act requires property owners and constables serving a Notice to Quit and Notice of Lease Non-renewal to also provide tenants with a Notice of Tenants’ Rights and Resources. This document is available in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, French, Cape Verdean Creole, Haitian Creole, Somali, Russian, Vietnamese, or Arabic.
Visit our landlord information page or our tenant information page for more details.
Virtual Walk-In Hours
Every Wednesday from 12 - 1 p.m., Office Housing Stability staff are available via Zoom to answer your housing questions.
Complete our online form to RSVP for these walk-in hours. Feel free to include topics you'd like to discuss that are related to finding and maintaining stable, safe, and affordable housing.
Prior to walk-in hours, you will receive a meeting link via email.
Having housing issues in Boston?
Get helpThere is a federal eviction moratorium in place until December 31, 2020. The Order prohibits property owners from evicting people who cannot pay rent. You must fill out this declaration form (English, Español, Português, 中文, Français, Kriolu Kabuverdianu, Kreyòl ayisyen, Soomaali, русский, Tiếng Việt, or عربى) and present it to your landlord.
STEP 2A number of landlords have pledged to work with their tenants to maintain their housing. See if your landlord has signed the pledge.
STEP 3A landlord cannot force you out by changing the locks or shutting off the utilities. Landlords must follow a legal process. Learn about the eviction process.
STEP 4If you received a Notice to Quit or Eviction Summons and Complaint from the Court, please visit our "how to respond to an eviction" page for more information about legal resources.
If you owe past rent, you may be able to negotiate with your landlord on reasonable repayment terms. You can review a sample agreement in English, Español, Português, 中文, Français, Kriolu Kabuverdianu, Kreyòl ayisyen, Soomaali, русский, Tiếng Việt, or عربى.
Apply for funds to help with rental arrears with:
- the City of Boston Rental Relief Fund, or
- through RAFT funding. Please call 2-1-1 for more information about resources outside of the City of Boston.
If you have a housing voucher, please watch this housing recertification video. You can also view this housing recertification presentation.
A landlord cannot force you out by changing the locks or shutting off the utilities.
Landlords must follow a legal eviction process. If the landlord has changed your locks, please call the police. You should also report the landlord to the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Consumer Complaint Hotline: Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m., at 617-727-8400.
Contact Inspectional Services if:
- your apartment needs repairs or is in code violation, or
- your utilities have been shut off.
If you feel that you are being discriminated against, contact the Office of Fair Housing and Equity.
- Use Metrolist to search for affordable housing.
- Watch this housing search workshop in English or Spanish.
- Fill out this Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs.
- Visit HousingWorks for additional resources.
- If you are a family that needs shelter tonight, follow the state's guide for families.
- If you are an individual that needs shelter tonight, follow our guide for individuals.
- You can call 2-1-1 for help or assistance with shelters.
- You can also call 3-1-1 for non-emergency help in Boston.
Tenant Resources
Learn what to expect when renting in Boston.
Tenants should know their rights before and while renting
A list of resources for tenants-at-risk, such as financial assistance, housing search help, and job training.
In the case of a fire, it is important that tenants and landlords understand their rights and obligations.
Landlord Resources
Click here if you need help paying your mortgage.
Things landlords should know before renting an apartment.
Looking to rent out a property? Click here for tips.
We offer loans to help homeowners with home repair costs.
Programs and Initiatives
ProgramsContact Us
We help tenants in housing crisis due to fire, natural disaster, eviction, or condemnation. Email housingstability@boston.gov or call 617-635-4200 to contact us. 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.