Massachusetts’ eviction record sealing law, M.G.L. c. 239 § 16 — which took effect May 5, 2025 — is a critical tool for stabilizing western Massachusetts residents. An eviction filing, even one from years ago, can mean the difference between being approved for or rejected from future housing. This matters deeply in western Massachusetts, where many tenants face steep barriers to stable housing.

Eviction filings remain stubbornly high. According to a report from the Massachusetts Housing Partnership (HOUSING STABILITY MONITOR: Massachusetts Evictions & Foreclosures), eviction filings statewide averaged over 3,000 per month in 2025, far above pre-pandemic levels. Western Massachusetts communities are among the hardest hit: Hampden County’s rate reached 25 filings per 1,000 renter households, leading the state. Pittsfield’s rate — 20.81 filings per 1,000 renter households — far exceeded the state average. These numbers reflect a housing market where renters are particularly vulnerable and where homelessness, including among families, continues to rise. Sealing past eviction cases offers a way to end the cycle of homelessness and housing instability.

The new sealing law, passed as part of the 2024 Affordable Homes Act, allows tenants to petition the Housing Court to seal certain eviction records depending on how their case ended. Sealing doesn’t erase the case but removes it from public view — shielding tenants from screening agencies and landlords, including subsidized housing providers, who often treat any court filing as a red flag.

Under the new law, dismissed eviction cases, or cases where the tenant got a favorable result, may be sealed after the 10-day appeal period ends with no notice to the landlord required. Even if a tenant did not win their case, they may still be eligible for sealing depending on the timing and type of case, whether they have had other cases since then, and whether there is any money still owed to the landlord. The sealing petition paperwork explains all the details and can be found online at SealMyEviction.org. Filing a petition is free, and the Trial Court now offers an online guided-interview that explains the process and can be used to help tenants prepare their forms.

Low-income tenants in particular may benefit from the new sealing law. A record of a
past eviction filing, particularly one for nonpayment of rent, can stand in the way of eligibility for subsidized housing. Since many low-income tenants are seeking subsidized housing due to an inability to pay market rates, these past eviction filings can be one more barrier to stability for tenants who need it most.

Since the law went into effect, Community Legal Aid (CLA) has helped many tenants in Berkshire County and throughout western and central Massachusetts seal past cases. One such tenant was a single mother with a disability, who had actually won her eviction case. Despite the court ruling in her favor, the record of it could affect future housing prospects for her and her children. By sealing her case, CLA cleared a path forward for her to seek new housing with as few barriers as possible.

To ensure that residents understand and can use this new protection, Community Legal Aid is hosting a free seminar, “Understanding Massachusetts’ New Eviction Record Sealing Law,” at the Pittsfield Public Library on Tuesday, Dec. 9, 2025, at 5 p.m. We will explain eligibility, walk through the petition process, and share tips to navigate the Housing Court. We will also provide a sign-up sheet for an eviction sealing clinic for eligible tenants who need further guidance on how to seal their past cases. Residents of all western Massachusetts counties are welcome.

For tenants, landlords, advocates, and local leaders alike, this law is an opportunity to change how eviction histories shape people’s futures. Join the seminar, spread the word, and help make eviction sealing a real source of stability and second chances in western Massachusetts.
 
Angelina Morisi is a staff attorney at Community Legal Aid’s Housing Unit in Pittsfield. Christa Douaihy is a coordinating attorney at Community Legal Aid’s Fair Housing Unit
in Springfield.