Office of Housing Stability
We help residents find and maintain stable, safe, and affordable housing.
You can find additional information on the Emergency Housing Voucher (EHV) Program. The Rental Relief Fund is also available:
The Boston Public Health Commission issued a new public health order on August 31, 2021 establishing a moratorium on evictions in the city of Boston. This order went into effect immediately and may protect you if you are a city of Boston resident that has been ordered to leave your home for reasons other than criminal activity.
If the Housing Court has ordered you to leave, you may not have to. For more information, call 617.635.4200, email OHSintake@boston.gov, or use this form to request legal assistance.
If you’re able to, you should pay your rent. If you need help paying your past and future rent, apply for rental assistance today. Applying for rental assistance may “stop the clock” on the eviction process if you’ve received a Notice to Quit.
Boston, MA 02114 Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Virtual Walk-In Hours and Clinics
Every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., the Office of Housing Stability hosts a virtual clinic for small landlords and tenants. Complete our online form to RSVP for this virtual clinic.
Every Wednesday from 12 p.m., Office of Housing Stability staff host virtual walk-in hours to answer your housing questions. Complete our online form to RSVP for these walk-in hours.
At both the clinics and walk-in hours, staff can assist you with Rental Relief Fund applications and other financial assistance.
Having housing issues in Boston?
Get helpOnly a judge can evict you. A landlord cannot force you out by changing the locks or shutting off the utilities. Visit the "I'm having problems with my landlord" drawer for more information.
STEP 1Applying for rental assistance now may temporarily stop your housing court case. Specifically, the court cannot “enter a judgment” against you or “issue an execution” before your financial assistance has been approved or denied.
If you can’t pay your rent, you should work with your landlord to seek financial assistance from:
- the City of Boston Rental Relief Fund
- RAFT/ERAP funding, or
- through ABCD Rental Assistance.
If you received a Notice to Quit or Eviction Summons and Complaint from the Court, visit our "how to respond to an eviction" and "what to do when facing eviction" pages for more information about legal resources.
STEP 2Fill out this form (available in English, Español, Português, 中文, Français, Kriolu Kabuverdianu, Kreyòl ayisyen, Soomaali, русский, Tiếng Việt, or عربى) in your preferred language and email it to OHSintake@boston.gov. An OHS staff member will review the form and, if you qualify, refer your case to a lawyer from Greater Boston Legal Services.
Every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., the Office of Housing Stability hosts a virtual clinic. You can complete our online form to RSVP for this clinic, where you can speak with attorneys and a landlord mediator.
Every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., the Office of Housing Stability hosts a virtual clinic. Complete our online form to RSVP for this clinic, where you can speak with attorneys and a landlord mediator.
Apply for funds to help with rental arrears with:- the City of Boston Rental Relief Fund
- RAFT/ERAP funding, or
- through ABCD Rental Assistance.
You cannot be evicted if you have a rental assistance application pending. Specifically, the court cannot “enter a judgment” against you or “issue an execution” before your financial assistance has been approved or denied.
Please call 2-1-1 or visit this website 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.
Every Tuesday at 5:30 p.m., the Office of Housing Stability hosts a virtual clinic. Complete our online form to RSVP for this clinic, where you can speak with attorneys and a landlord mediator.
A 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.
Your landlord cannot:- move your belongings out of your apartment
- change your locks
- shut off your utilities, or
- interfere with your use of the unit without permission from the court.
- Call the police.
- Call the Attorney General's Office at 617-727-8400 or fill out this form
- Call the Office of Housing Stability at 617-635-4200 or 3-1-1 and ask for legal assistance.
- Fill out this form (available in English, Español, Português, 中文, Français, Kriolu Kabuverdianu, Kreyòl ayisyen, Soomaali, русский, Tiếng Việt, or عربى) in your preferred language and email it to OHSintake@boston.gov.
- 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 at 617-635-2500.
Visit this MassLegalHelp page for more information.
- Use Metrolist to search for affordable housing.
- Fill out this Common Housing Application for Massachusetts Programs.
- Visit the Boston Housing Authority website.
- Watch this housing search workshop in English or Spanish.
- Visit HousingWorks for additional resources.
- If your income is below 80 percent AMI, the Office of Housing Stability has contracts with several nonprofits that are here to assist you with housing search. Email housingstability@boston.gov or call (617) 635-4200 for a direct referral.
- 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, visit our services for the homeless page.
- If you are a youth in need of assistance, visit our ending youth homelessness page.
- You can also call 3-1-1 for non-emergency help in Boston.
- You can call 2-1-1 or visit this website for help outside of Boston.
- If you're not eligible for emergency assistance, email housingstability@boston.gov or call 617-635-4200 for help.
- ERMA, which can offer up to $10,000 in mortgage assistance, or
- ABCD Mortgage Assistance, which can offer up to $4,000 in mortgage assistance.
Internship opportunities
The Office of Housing Stability (OHS) is constantly looking for new ways to partner with undergraduate and graduate students who share an interest in:
- housing affordability
- housing justice, and
- eviction prevention.
Interns with OHS will have the opportunity to learn from staff who are knowledgeable about housing resources for tenants and landlords. They'll work with Boston residents who are at risk of housing instability.
Interns may also have the opportunity to support the:
- research
- development, and
- implementation of new programs and policies that the office is exploring.
Fill out our expression of interest form to apply for an internship.
Tenant resources
If you owe rent and/or utilities, apply to the City of Boston Rental Relief Fund.
Enter an address to search for information about a residential property in Boston.
Learn what to expect when renting in Boston.
Read this before renting a property.
Tenants should know their rights before and while renting
The ordinance requires landlords planning to convert a property into condos or a coop to secure a plan and permit.
In the case of a fire, it is important that tenants and landlords understand their rights and obligations.
The Boston Housing Authority (BHA) provides public housing and other affordable housing options.
Landlord resources
The City supports landlords who rent to Boston residents moving out of homelessness.
Answers to frequently asked questions for landlords.
The act requires landlords planning to end a tenancy to provide tenants with a Notice of Rights and Resources.
The ordinance requires landlords planning to convert a property to secure a Plan and Permit.
This weekly clinic will provide you with free legal assistance.
Get help paying your mortgage.
If your tenants' owe back rent, encourage them to apply for the Rental Relief Fund, which will pay you directly.
Read this if you're planning on renting out a property, or already have tenants.
Looking to rent out a property? We have tips.
We offer loans to help homeowners with home repair costs.
Landlords in the private market can lease their apartments to families in the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program.
Multilingual Documents
Multilingual DocumentsContact 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.
