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HD 1706

An Act to maintain stable housing for families with pets

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Christine Barber and 15 co-sponsors

Massachusetts bill establishes housing protections preventing landlords from discriminating against or evicting tenants based on pet ownership, ensuring housing stability for pet-owning families.

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Bill Summary · HD 1706

Legislative bill overview

HD 1706 seeks to protect families with pets from housing discrimination and eviction by establishing legal protections that prevent landlords from refusing tenants solely based on pet ownership. The bill aims to ensure that pet-owning families can maintain stable housing without fear of losing their homes or being denied rental opportunities because of their animals.

Why is this important

Pet ownership affects millions of households, and housing discrimination based on pets forces families to choose between their animals and stable shelter—a particular hardship for low-income families. Stable housing is linked to better health outcomes, educational stability for children, and reduced reliance on emergency services, making pet-friendly housing policy a public health and social stability issue.

Potential points of contention

  • Landlord liability concerns: Property owners may worry about increased damage to units, injury liability, or noise complaints from tenants' pets, raising questions about what reasonable pet restrictions (if any) would remain permissible
  • Rental market impacts: Some argue broad protections could reduce available rental housing or increase rents for non-pet owners subsidizing pet-related risks
  • Definitional boundaries: The bill's scope regarding service animals versus emotional support animals versus pets, and any size/breed limitations, will likely face debate about where protections should apply

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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