Mass. Gen. Laws c. 121B § 43A
Rental assistance program; relocation of residents; leased housing units
Operative Text
Section 43A. If a person resides in a private dwelling unit or such other housing unit subject to regulations promulgated by the department not inconsistent with the standard required for dwelling units leased by a local housing authority under any federal or state rent subsidy program and if that unit does not meet reasonable standards of human habitation, provided that the tenant shall not have caused such conditions, and the authority has terminated the lease as to said substandard unit then the resident may vacate the substandard unit and may relocate in another unit. The housing authority shall assist the resident in locating another unit. The rental subsidy shall be withdrawn from the vacated substandard unit and shall be transferred to the unit in which the resident may relocate. If the alternate dwelling unit or said other housing unit is standard or if the owner of said unit agrees to make the unit standard and if the rental thereof is reasonable and acceptable to the housing authority in accordance with section forty-three, and if the owner of said unit is willing to enter into a leasing agreement with said authority, said authority shall expeditiously execute a lease for occupancy of said unit by said resident under the guidelines of the rent subsidy program affected. Whenever a local housing authority determines that a unit leased by it under a federal or state rent subsidy program is going to be withdrawn from such program by termination or expiration of the rental agreement with the owner of said unit, the occupant of said unit may relocate to another unit. Such unit shall be leased by the Authority, provided that it meets all the requirements of the subsidy program under which the original unit was leased.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 121B § 43A establishes a process by which residents living in privately owned housing units that participate in a state or federal rent subsidy program can move to a different unit when their current unit fails to meet reasonable habitability standards—so long as the tenant did not cause those conditions—or when the housing authority's lease on the unit is ending. In either situation, the rental subsidy follows the resident to the new unit rather than remaining attached to the substandard or expiring unit. The housing authority is required to help the resident find a suitable replacement unit and to execute a new lease promptly once the replacement unit meets program requirements and the owner agrees to participate.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mass. Gen. Laws c. 121B § 43A, owners who participate in a state or federal rent subsidy program through a local housing authority should be aware that the subsidy tied to a unit can be withdrawn and transferred if the unit is found substandard or if the lease agreement with the authority terminates or expires. Compliant operators generally maintain their units at or above the habitability standards required by the applicable subsidy program to avoid triggering a lease termination and subsidy transfer. Owners who wish to retain subsidy income typically respond promptly to any authority findings of substandard conditions and, where feasible, enter into agreements to bring the unit up to standard before a formal termination occurs.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mass. Gen. Laws c. 121B § 43A gives subsidy-assisted tenants the right to relocate to another unit—with their rental subsidy moving with them—if their current unit fails reasonable habitability standards through no fault of their own, or if the housing authority's lease on the unit is being terminated or is expiring. The local housing authority is obligated under this provision to actively assist residents in locating a suitable replacement unit and to execute a new lease expeditiously once a qualifying unit is identified. Tenants who believe this provision applies to their situation may contact their local housing authority directly, reach out to a tenant-rights organization, or consult with a legal aid office familiar with Massachusetts housing law for general information about available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 30, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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