PITTSFIELD — When a tenant attended a Springfield No One Leaves clinic to seal what she thought was a single eviction record, she learned she actually had 17 eviction filings, said Katie Talbot, the organization's organizing director.

Although all 17 cases were resolved through mediation before any eviction was carried out, "that was the only thing getting in her way of finding an apartment," Talbot said.

But after advocates helped the woman get those records sealed, she is no longer worried about her chances when it comes to finding another apartment, Talbot said.

Massachusetts legalized the sealing of eviction records in May 2025, allowing tenants who meet certain requirements — such as not having another eviction soon after the initial one — to have their court records sealed. Housing officials say eviction records, even in cases where tenants prevailed, can be a major barrier to finding safe, stable housing. They say sealing those records is one way to give tenants more control over their housing opportunities.

Nuri Sherif, a staff attorney for Mass Fair Housing, said the first year of the new law has been going well, and outreach is crucial.

"People are able to access eviction sealing services, either by attending clinic or in conversations with their attorneys," Sherif said.

Mass Fair Housing and Springfield No One Leaves jointly received a $55,000 grant to hold workshops to help tenants understand what it takes to seal eviction records, like the one last Wednesday at 18 Degrees in Pittsfield. At these workshops, lawyers are on site to help tenants understand their eviction history, the steps they need to take to seal those records and, if applicable, seal those records on the spot. They can also find records tenants had no idea were filed.

Talbot said the tenant had no idea the additional filings existed because she only appeared in court once. All of those eviction cases, including the one the tenant appeared in court for, were settled without any action, but the tenant still had to disclose that they had an eviction record.

So Springfield No One Leaves helped the tenant seal her records.

Sealed records aren't destroyed or removed from the court database, instead only certain parties — primarily those involved in the eviction case — can access them, meaning other landlords and the public don't have access to those records.

The law is a way to give some agency back to tenants in a process where "it's the landlords that hold all the power," Talbot said.

This law does not protect problematic tenants who have multiple evictions on their records, as there is a waiting period after the last eviction before a tenant can seal their record. For cases that were dismissed, the tenant won or were no fault evictions, there is no waiting period. But in the case of for-cause evictions, when a landlord removes a tenant for a specific lease violation, a tenant needs to wait seven years and have no other eviction filings.

These cases are often complex, making the process to seal records harder, which is why clinics are being held, Sherif said. "Sometimes you need someone to explain the process to you."

Right now, Springfield No One Leaves and Mass Fair Housing are looking for a partner in Berkshire County to host another clinic.

For tenants looking to seal their records, or get a better understanding of their eviction history, Sherif recommends searching the Massachusetts Court System for eviction records, as they are public information. The state also has a guided interview that tenants can use to file a petition to seal their eviction records.

Although Talbot said the power disparity between tenants and landlords is still vast, allowing for eviction sealing "is in the direction of leveling the playing field."