Live Events and Training Videos

The critical step in a tenant screening process is the rental application. Is it complete? Is it true? And is it enough? In this presentation, we review our rental application box-by-box, with examples completed. Who are they? What were their other names? Can we verify their prior address? What do…

These videos teach how to take move-in monies as a landlord in Massachusetts. We discuss the four allowable charges: First month’s rent Last month’s rent Security deposit Locks Security deposits are one of the primary liabilities for Massachusetts landlords. If you make a paperwork mistake, you might owe your renter…

This presentation teaches the basics of water submetering. Why we should, what it costs, and how to bill compliantly. In particular, we review: Motivating horror stories of tenant water usage gone bad Basic cost/benefit analysis and ROI When to install meters Which types of meters are available Upgrading or verifying…

This presentation gives attendees a comprehensive overview of the Housing Choice Voucher Program (Section 8). We cover: What to say when an applicant asks, “Do you take Section 8?” Why and to what extent Massachusetts landlords must participate How to deal with inspections How to screen a Section 8 applicant…

Insurance is one of the “big three” expenses alongside mortgage and real estate taxes. If a tenant requests, landlords must disclose insurance details for the property. See MGL Ch 186 Section 21. If you have a claim, insurance can decide the fate of your business. For instance, did you know…

Landlords cannot turn away households with children because of lead, but children cannot live around lead hazards. We must delead! So what must we do, exactly? This presentation is fully updated to reflect tigher CDC, EPA and Massachusetts standards, as well as the recent $2 million Massachusetts lead grant from…

This members-only discussion will review an opportunity to dramatically increase the state deleading credit. Massachusetts has the opportunity to reach functional zero lead poisoning. The upcoming 193rd legislative session may accomplish this. We’ll review the situation and the opportunities: Lead poisonings increased 20% during the pandemic. Despite 50 years of…

Do you have a Written Information Security Program? Are you compliant with MGL Chapter 93H and 201 CMR 17? Find out how you can prevent identify theft both for yourself and for your tenants, comply with the law, and make life easier for your company in a digital age. We…

This presentation reviews recent changes in Worcester and how owners and property managers can stay current. In particular, we cover: The proposed five-year plan for the City of Worcester, being developed as part of Now | Next. The Certified Massachusetts Landlord™, a MassLandlords program that could be incorporated into Now…

When you can’t buy a new property, is your income maxed out? Maybe not. For “Ways to Make More Money with Existing Properties,”, we be present the best tips and tricks we’ve learned from talking with hundreds of landlords over the years for offering a higher level of service and…

This presentation introduces you to heat pump water heaters, a mature technology making big inroads in the Massachusetts rental market. We teach: How heat pumps can take $1 of electricity to make $4 of hot water. Comparison of install cost vs gas or electric. Are there any cold climate considerations?…

Veteran status is protected from discrimination. This means housing providers must understand veteran services and subsidies, or else risk making bad decisions based on stereotypes. Many veterans are thriving and some take advantage of social services, participation in which landlords cannot refuse. This presentation explains: Difference between veteran status and…

This presentation is a broad-ranging discussion of landlord-tenant law, motivated by a short initial presentation on the top ten ways to lose your eviction case, including COVID-19 related changes impacting landlord/tenant cases: Improper notices Conditions counterclaims The number one way to lose may surprise you and much more Attendees will…

This presentation focuses on foundational skills in tenant screening and rental applications. We cover: A refresher on the protected classes and avoiding discrimination, including new discrimination based on hair. Creating your own rental application, or using MassLandlords’. Evaluating information presented on an application, including avoiding the latest scams. Checking housing…

Leases have the advantage of providing long-term stability for you and your renter. But sudden real estate tax increases can destroy a carefully calculated rent and turn a lease upside down, eliminating the net income you were banking on. Is there anything you can do? Learn about tax escalation clauses,…

Security deposits are one of the primary liabilities for Massachusetts landlords. If you make a paperwork mistake, you might owe your renter three times the amount of the deposit plus attorney’s fees. And what a lot of paperwork there is! First receipt, second receipt, annual receipt, conditions statement, withholding receipt,…

Most rental voucher programs require loss of a tenant’s voucher when that tenant seriously violates the terms of his or her tenancy, yet this isn’t necessarily what happens in real life. Conversely, tenants sometimes lose their vouchers for reasons that might not be considered sufficient cause for eviction. Why is…

The state sanitary code defines what every apartment in Massachusetts must do and be. Unlike the building code, which is usually inspected only at time of permit completion, the state sanitary code applies in all rentals all the time, and can be inspected at any time. Did you know it…

This presentation reviews the difference between a roommate and a lodger. You need a license for one but not the other. We contrast both with normal tenancies and with special situations. We explain: Separate vs. joint-and-several rental agreements. Sanitary code requirements with shared kitchens and bathrooms. What makes a lodging…

This presentation shares the lived experience of one landlord who went through the rent control years and kept detailed records of what it was like. We will learn about: What it was like to attend a rent control hearing, How rent control and its repeal changed Cambridge, Which lessons the…

This policy presentation examines the theory behind rent control, the history of rent control in Massachusetts, and the reasons why we shouldn’t have rent control in Massachusetts (or indeed anywhere in the U.S.). We study: Legitimate motivations to correct injustice in modern housing markets. Current and past bill text proposed…

There are dozens of services to collect rent in US Dollars online, including Venmo, PayPal, Apartments.com (formerly Cozy), ZRent, and RentHelper. Or should you use Bitcoin? This presentation explores these options and more. We start by reviewing the pros and cons of digital rent collection. For instance, digital rent collection…

This presentation provides an overview of MassLandlords policy priorities, as set by the membership and implemented by staff. We will cover: Latest results from the ongoing policy priorities survey. Bills MassLandlords has filed or supports. Bills MassLandlords is tracking in opposition. Litigation against the Department of Housing and Community Development…

This presentation will cover paint and painting for landlords, owners and property managers of all sizes. Whether you are DIY or overseeing a team of six, we’ll make sure you learn something useful: Color management across all your units, vendors and service providers Cutting in with a brush (no more…

The Tax Cut and Jobs Act of 2017 granted states the power to define Qualified Opportunity Zones, which offer tax-deferred or tax-free investment opportunities to landlords and businesses alike. Massachusetts created opportunity zones everywhere! We review the opportunity zone process, show areas in your neck of the woods that will…

This presentation reviews notices to quit, possibly the number one source of errors when attempting to access rental assistance or summary process (eviction). Attendees will learn about: The CARES Act and how it remains in effect for “federally covered” buildings 7-day notices 14-day notices 30-day notices 90-day notices and other…

MassLandlords has been running well! But it has been seven years since the bylaws were last updated, and we need to do some maintenance. At this meeting members will have a chance to review nine changes proposed to the MassLandlords bylaws. The complete list of proposed changes is: Offer an…

This members-only presentation reviews our message boards and Facebook group. If you want to understand more about how these work or start using them, this presentation is for you! We cover: The MassLandlords email message boards. The Facebook group. How the Facebook group is different from the Facebook page. How…

This presentation gives a broad overview of all MassLandlords membership benefits. We show you how to access benefits and explain some of the options available under each. As of this presentation, we have over 14 benefits. We cover: Rental forms Home Depot savings Service provider directory Entity formation savings Rent…

This presentation teaches fair use of MassCourts.org, the public record of summary process (aka eviction) and housing-related small claims lawsuits in Massachusetts. Landlords can and should use this information to help score rental applications, screen tenants, and ensure that every resident will follow the rules and contribute to a happy…

During this presentation we pull up the Mass Save website and walk through what’s available. You will learn: How to save substantially (sometimes 100%) on whole-building insulation. How heat pump water heaters are now eligible for rebates even if you replace gas. What options there are for heat pumps. And…

At this event we will get an update from the Housing Court on all matters related to summary process (evictions) and small claims. In particular: Meet Housing Court staff and learn their roles. Review the latest Housing Court standing orders. Hear how the Housing Court will adapt to the latest…

This tutorial shows you how to use the MassLandlords heat pump vs. furnace or boiler calculator. Knowledge of Excel is recommended but not required. The heat pump vs. furnace or boiler calculator helps you find the best way to heat your buildings. We cover: How to model your apartment, including…

Although the sexy-scary term we all know is “hard money lending,” this presentation covers the whole spectrum of lending options available to real estate investors and related businesses, including leasing, sale/leasebacks, revolving lines of credit, purchase order financing, factoring, and finally, private placements (aka hard money loans). We discuss what…

This presentation helps you manage your rental income stream as a business at any size. It is not a legal compliance review. Instead, we focus on business tools and processes. Full- and part-time landlords will find a variety of productivity tips and tricks: How can I guarantee new knowledge always…

This presentation offers an overview of how flood water gets into buildings and what buy-and-hold investors should do about it. We focus on the impact climate change is having on the general trend of rainfall and flooding. Previously dry buildings may become moist, wet or flooded over time. We teach…

MassLandlords has developed an “early warning system” for bills, ordinances, and hearings. This system can alert members and staff to housing-related issues so we can provide timely testimony at hearings. We need your help to make the system work! This training reviews Massachusetts housing policy and give a demonstration of…

This presentation offers a comprehensive overview of federal and state protected classes. We’re fortunate to live in a country and a state where we cannot be denied housing because of our belonging to a protected class. But as rental housing operators, we do have to deny applications. We review: The…

This presentation gives landlords a basic overview of criminal process as it relates to landlord tenant law. We cover at a very high level: Types of crimes we might be concerned with including domestic violence, assault, larceny, or illegal use or possession firearms and drugs. Rights that you have as…

This presentation discusses community mediation, a free alternative to other conflict resolution strategies including court. This presentation covers: How mediation leaves you in control of the outcome. The differences between community mediation, alternative dispute resolution, and court. What to expect from a mediation. Why go to mediation early, when problems…

This video focuses on self-management, communication and conflict-resolution skills. We particularly focus on high-conflict situations. We will cover: How owners and managers can earn goodwill before drawing down on it. “Going to the balcony” for mental separation from heated, emotionally charged tenant situations. Phrases and approaches that de-escalate, especially where…

This presentation provides a legal overview of landlording, focusing on the common mistakes that landlords make, especially those that are the most costly. We review basic requirements of: Security deposits Tenant screening and anti-discrimination Lead paint Notices to quit Sanitary code Pre-rental inspections and more. This presentation will not be…

This presentation teaches you how to be listed on MassLandlords.net as a Certified Massachusetts Landlord™ and pass our test. This new professional designation is available to current, new and prospective owners and managers of Massachusetts residential real estate. We explain: Why certification matters to: State politics, and Your bottom line.…

This presentation focuses on how to conduct a mutual release with relocation assistance payment, sometimes called “cash for keys.” We discuss: Brief history (going back to the 2008 collapse) General procedure Common terms and conditions in a mutual release How much to offer? Going rates from real experience Negotiation tips…

Learn the best tips for installing and using security cameras: Did you know we cannot record audio, and that a sign saying we do is no help? Have you adopted a “power over ethernet” system? Was your system installed by a security company or an electrician? Have cameras reduced lost…

At your breaking point over tough tenancy issues? Unable even to talk with your tenant about the back rent? Powerless to exercise your rights until eviction is unavoidable and lawyers are needed? As attractive and profitable as landlording may be, tenant conflict can bring us to the boiling point! Although…

Learn why and how owners operate with an LLC, Inc., or trust. This presentation reviews: How entities can help with estate planning, bankruptcy containment, and business growth. Which form of entity is most commonly used by Massachusetts landlords? Why trusts are now out of favor. The basic outline for what…

This presentation reviews our applicant qualifier in-depth. Best practice for screening tenants includes using an applicant qualifier. This objective point-scoring system ensures that your very expensive rental property will not be rented to the wrong tenant based on “gut feel.” Also, this guarantees applicants equal housing opportunity without discrimination. We…

This presentation walks you through a new members-only resource: Our Massachusetts ADU table. This table is a listing of every town and city ordinance on ADUs. We discuss: What is an accessory dwelling unit? Which towns allow some kind of ADU? Which towns require owner occupy vs. allow investment? Do…

A 1031 exchange is a tax-deferred exchange of real estate that will allow you to have more money to reinvest in rental real estate: You can sell your current building and buy a new one, deferring capital gains and depreciation recapture tax from the sale of the first property. We’ll…