As a homeowner in Medford, I am fortunate to have the stability of a fixed monthly mortgage payment for 30 years, with only moderate annual increases for insurance or property taxes. This stability is largely due to federal government regulation of mortgages. However, renters in our community do not enjoy the same financial security. They are subject to unpredictable and often steep rent increases that can disrupt their lives and force them out of their homes and community. 

We believe that renters deserve the same financial stability as homeowners. That's why we're calling on our local government to pass a rent stabilization home rule petition. That’s the first step to passing an ordinance that would limit annual rent increases in Medford.

According to data from RentHop, average rents in Medford have increased by 30% over the past three years alone (https://www.renthop.com/average-rent-in/medford-ma This rate far exceeds inflation and wage growth rates during the same period, leading to long-term residents being pushed out of Medford.  In the worst cases, corporate landlords buy a building, tenants face mass evictions, and rents increase by 50% or more.

By implementing a rent stabilization ordinance, we can help ensure that all residents—regardless of whether they own or rent their homes—have access to housing stability. This means children will not be forced to change schools, families will not be disconnected from their neighborhood and churches, and commutes to work will not be dramatically shifted. 

Councilor Kit Collins has introduced a Home Rule Petition (HRP) to cap rent increases at 5%. If approved by the City Council, Mayor, and Legislature, it would allow Medford to create an ordinance to stabilize rents. The final ordinance could include certain exemptions, like for buildings under a certain size and owner-occupied buildings. Big corporate landlords would not get exemptions. 

Please join us in advocating for this important change by signing this petition today. Let's work together towards creating an equitable housing market where keeping our neighbors safe and housed is more important than some corporate landlord’s profit margin!

More details:

Rent stabilization

Councilor Collins’ proposal would tie rent increases to the rate of inflation, but in no case could the rent increase by more than 5%.  Following the HRP passed in Somerville, a landlord can go higher than 5% ONLY IF they present proof of extraordinary expenses.  

Ban no-fault evictions

The proposal will also ban no-fault evictions (meaning the landlord would have to have a legitimate reason to file an eviction, like lease violations, not just wanting to convert to luxury apartments).  No-fault evictions are most common when a new landlord buys an apartment building and wants to evict everyone to upgrade it into luxury apartments with huge rent increases.  That is what happened on Bradlee Road in 2022 and 208 Main St. in 2024.

A landlord would still be able to evict a tenant for the following reasons: non-payment of rent, lease violations, criminal activity, occupancy in the unit by the landlord or family member, demolition, condo conversion, or conversion to non-residential use.

Link to draft proposal from February 2024: https://medfordma.portal.civicclerk.com/event/104/files/attachment/279