Massachusetts
For Massachusetts, presumption period is six months; what the presumption does is shall create a rebuttable presumption that such notice or other action is a reprisal against the tenant for engaging in such activities; example of a protected activity is for organizing or joining a tenants' union or similar organization; statute is G.L. c. 186, § 18, recorded from its source on 2026-09-02.
- State
- Massachusetts our reading
- Presumption period
- six months verified
- What the presumption does
- shall create a rebuttable presumption that such notice or other action is a reprisal against the tenant for engaging in such activities verified
- Example of a protected activity
- for organizing or joining a tenants' union or similar organization verified
- Statute
- G.L. c. 186, § 18 our reading
Values marked our reading are our classification of what the source says — the source does not print them in those words. The quote below is the evidence for each one; judge it yourself.
What the source says
The receipt of any notice of termination of tenancy, except for nonpayment of rent, or, of increase in rent, or, of any substantial alteration in the terms of tenancy within six months after the tenant has commenced, proceeded with, or obtained relief in such action, exercised such rights, made such report or complaint, or organized or joined such tenants' union or within six months after any other person has taken such action or actions on behalf of the tenant or in, or relating to, the building in which the tenant resides, shall create a rebuttable presumption that such notice or other action is a reprisal against the tenant for engaging in such activities.
— malegislature.gov, retrieved 2026-09-02
Where each value comes from
The value above is stated away from the sentence quoted with the answer, so the passage that states it is shown here too.
Example of a protected activity
or for organizing or joining a tenants' union or similar organization, or for making or expressing an intention to make, a payment of rent to an organization of unit owners pursuant to paragraph (c) of section six of chapter one hundred and eighty-three A
— all from malegislature.gov, retrieved 2026-09-02
Source
- malegislature.govhttps://malegislature.gov/Laws/GeneralLaws/PartII/TitleI/Chapter186/Section18