Boston’s rental market has tipped ever-so-slightly in renters’ favor, partially owing to out-of-state migration, a cooling biotech industry, and tighter student visa restrictions, according to a recent Bloomberg report. 

On the one hand, vacancies are the highest they’ve been since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the average rent in Boston has dipped for the first time since 2021, Bloomberg reported. 

On the other, the city’s average asking rent still clocked in at $3,043 in October, and reporting from The Boston Globe indicates that rents in Boston’s urban core have risen sharply between 2022 and 2025, despite the recent slowing.

Still, decreasing demand has left landlords dangling price cuts and other concessions in a bid to lure tenants.

Over in Cambridge, according to Bloomberg, a three-bedroom unit near the Massachusetts Institute of Technology has been sitting vacant for more than five months — even with a price cut from about $4,200 a month to $3,550. Landlords elsewhere are going into bargaining mode: new tenants at Luka on the Common in the Theater District can get one month free and a $500 gift card, while renters who sign a 17-month lease at The Indie in Allston can get up to three months free. 

Desperately needed additions to the region’s housing supply have helped ease demand; Boston’s metro area added 8,600 units over the past year, about 20% higher than its 10-year average, Bloomberg reported, citing RealPage Chief Economist Carl Whitaker.

But according to the news outlet, it’s “economic jitters” driving down rents — not an oversupply of new developments.

The recent reversal follows years of growth fueled by the region’s biotech industry, now beset by plunging valuations, layoffs, and cuts to federal research funding. Separately, as Bloomberg noted, immigration raids and student visa restrictions have taken their toll on international student enrollment, leaving some of Boston’s college-heavy neighborhoods emptier than usual. 

“I’ve been doing real estate and technology for 30 years. I’ve never seen anything like this,” Demetrios Salpoglou, CEO of Boston Pads, told Boston.com in August. “It’s very acute. It’s not impacting all neighborhoods … it’s really proximity to a lot of universities that have a heavy reliance on foreign money or foreign enrollment.”

Adding to the uncertainty, Massachusetts was one of just two states that saw negative employment growth for the 12 months ending in August, according to Bloomberg. And while it remains unclear how long tenants will have the upper hand, there’s a push underway for a 2026 ballot question that would tie annual rent growth to cost of living increases, with a 5% annual cap. 

In the meantime, according to Bloomberg, landlords and agents are hoping to see leasing activity bounce back in the new year. 

“Everyone’s anxiously waiting to see what happens in the spring,” Damian Szary, an executive at the real estate firm Redgate, told the news outlet.

Abby Patkin is a general assignment news reporter whose work touches on public transit, crime, health, and everything in between.

Authorities are investigating the death of a Suffolk County House of Correction inmate who was found unresponsive at the Boston detention center Sunday night, according to the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office.

The inmate was taken to a hospital where he died, the district attorney’s office said. Prosecutors are investigating his death along with Boston police and are awaiting results from the inmate’s autopsy.

The Suffolk County Sheriff’s Department, which runs the detention center, identified the inmate as 32-year-old Shacoby Kenny, Boston 25 News reported. On Sunday night, he “began exhibiting erratic behavior and physically attacked” detention center staff.

The sheriff’s department said that Kenny ran around his unit and tried to evade correction officers before he was brought under control, after which he became unresponsive, Boston 25 News reported. Medical staff at the detention center performed life-saving measures before he was taken to a hospital.

The sheriff’s department said that Kenny has been detained at the Suffolk County House of Correction since February, but was temporarily sent to Bridgewater State Hospital — the Massachusetts Department of Correction’s psychiatric hospital — in July, Boston 25 News reported.

No further information was immediately available Monday night.

In front of snow plows and a 600-ton mound of salt on Monday, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu thanked city employees, especially first responders and those directly in charge of public works, for their efforts in laying the groundwork for a safe winter.

“Boston is ready,” Wu said at a press conference. “We know that winter can be quite unpredictable these days. Here in our city, you have to be ready for a major snowstorm, or you have to be ready for flooding at any moment’s notice.”

The mayor said the city prepares months in anticipation of snow and extreme cold weather. The city has approximately 32,000 tons of salt and 175 pieces of snow-clearing equipment, as well as 800 additional pieces from contractors ready, for deployment if necessary.

She advised Bostonians to be aware of those around them and to assist anyone who may appear disoriented or not dressed for the weather.

Nick Gove, Boston’s interim chief of streets, said the roadway treatments have already been launched to ensure road safety for all Bostonians traveling during the cold and icy winter ahead.

“Winter weather pulls our employees away from the regular jobs and their families,” Gove said. “We work long hours, often in the middle of the night, to keep our roadways safe and clear. The city is very fortunate to have a dedicated, highly skilled and experienced team to do this work.”

He also asked residents to be patient in the case of extreme weather, as plows get to main roads first and then to others as fast as possible. Bostonians are also in charge of cleaning sidewalks.

“Snow and ice season is a team effort,” Gove said at the press conference. “The city of Boston is ready for whatever winter brings.”

Matthew Kearney, deputy chief of emergency management, advised residents to sign up for AlertBoston, a service which provides information on emergency conditions.

Housing and heat are also crucial during the cold winter months, said Tania Del Rio, commissioners of the inspectional services department, and Sheila Dillon, chief of housing.

Del Rio reminded tenants and property owners to ensure their heating systems are working properly and set to the required temperatures.

She also advised Bostonians to never use grills, stoves, or other devices for indoor heating, and ensure that exterior vents are clear of snow.

Cold temperatures also put vulnerable populations at risk. Additional services and housing is available for homeless individuals to keep them out of the cold.

“Our shelter system has 1,250 beds and spaces available for our homeless individuals, and to add additional capacity, many of our local shelters have added approximately 150 additional beds and spaces for cold and nights where the weather is bad and we expect larger population to use them,” Dillion said.

Brianna Millor, chief of community engagement, said neighborhood liaisons make calls to local organizations, such as senior centers and non-profit organizations, to make them aware of the services the city provides. She encouraged residents to contact their liaison or the 311 line if they need support or notice damage due to extreme weather, yet she asked for patience in case of winter weather.

“Boston, you know the drill,” she said.

Katarina Schmeiszer can be reached at katarina.schmeiszer@globe.com. Follow her on X at @katschmeiszer.