Eviction History

Massachusetts trial courts currently allow landlords to access information about eviction and other civil cases on the internet and landlords can see if an eviction case has been brought against you in a particular court. Landlords can also see whether you have ever brought a case against your landlord, for example, to get bad conditions in your home fixed.

Some landlords use this database as a tenant screening tool to decide whether they want to rent to a particular tenant. This can lead to unfair denials of applications for example, the case may be very old, there can mistakes in the database, or you may have the same name as some else who was evicted.

Starting in May 2025, Massachusetts will allow tenants to seal eviction records depending on the type of case and the outcome. Check with local legal services agencies and you can call your local housing court to ask about how this will work starting in May 2025.

If you have been involved in a housing case and you plan to move, you should look your case up on the court's website to see what information is there. See Masscourts.org. If you find inaccurate information, contact the court to get the information corrected. See Error Correction Form (Booklet 12).²⁷

For Example

If the case was because the landlord wanted to move her son into the apartment, but the online information says it was for non-payment of rent, contact the court and ask them to change this.