Blog - Archived - Page 23 of 114

Should You Allow Your Renters to Keep Chickens or Bees?

Posted on June 22nd, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

A close-up of a large white chicken surrounded by brown and white baby chicks on a patch of grass

The trends of backyard poultry and beekeeping are on the rise. What should you do if your tenants want to give them a try?

Tell Your Rep. and Senator: Don’t Band-Aid Rental Assistance and Triple Court Duration

First Published June 6th, 2023 | Updated July 29th, 2024 Posted in News - 8 Comments

A graph of summary process (eviction) duration from filing to final disposition for Housing Court, District Court and Boston Municipal Court. The vertical y-axis is days from zero to 500 days. The horizontal x-axis is time from April 2019 through August 2021. There are three lines. The mean line is roughly 25 days from April 2019 until the pandemic starts March 2020, when it begins increasing to a maximum of 125 days in January 2021, then declines to 100 days in August 2021. The median line follows the mean, but ten days less for all dates and diverging lower even than this during the pandemic when many cases were quickly dismissed. The 95th-percentile line starts at 100 days, declines to 50 days until March 2020, and increases to around 300 days, with sharp ups and downs, through the rest of the graph and ending on 250 days.

Fiscal Year 2024 budget outside sections House 28 and Senate 48 would Band-Aid rental assistance, tripling court duration with no long-term benefit for renters.

New Housing Court Rules Aim to Reduce Eviction Defaults and Move Summary Process Cases Faster

Posted on June 2nd, 2023 Posted in News - 2 Comments

Photo of the western housing court building, in ornate, gothic architectural style, on Elm Street in Springfield, Mass., on a sunny day.

A recently announced update of operating rules for the Housing Court may shorten the time frame on eviction cases and cut down on defaults.

Letter from the Executive Director for June 2023: Monthly Pricing?

Posted on June 1st, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

Our Letter from the Executive Director for June 2023 asks whether we should allow new members to join on a monthly basis. We also review the changing policy landscape.

New Tenancies Must Include Notice to Renters About Safe Housing Rights (2023)

First Published May 31st, 2023 | Updated February 5th, 2026 Posted in News - 12 Comments

This shows a cropped section of the new state-issued Notice of Occupants’ Legal Rights and Responsibilities against a red background. The section reads: “Your Right to Safe and Healthy Housing and Protection from Retaliation. If you think that conditions in your home are unsafe or unsanitary and may violate the Housing Code, you should contact your local health department. They will conduct free inspections of your home and will order your landlord to fix any violations of the Housing Code. You can find contact information for your local health department by calling your city or town hall or visiting their website. City/town websites are listed at: mass.gov/lists/Massachusetts-city-and-town-websites. Your landlord is not allowed to raise your rent or try to evict you just because you have made a complaint to them or to the local health department about the violations. This is called retaliation, and you may be able to sue the landlord for damages if this happens (M.G.L. c186, s.18 and c.239, s.2A).

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health requires all tenants to be notified about their rights to safe housing; however, as worded, the notice does not benefit landlords or renters.

Three Years After Covid Shutdowns, Same Problems Still Frustrate the Rental Assistance Application Process

First Published May 30th, 2023 | Updated September 25th, 2025 Posted in News - 0 Comments

a man with a white moustache, wearing a blue baseball cap, blue t-shirt and white shorts, stands in front of a modern brick apartment building with “CVC” stenciled on an awning, manicured lawn and trimmed bushes, on a sunny day.

While some improvements have been made with the RAFT application process, delays and lack of communication and transparency continue to frustrate applicants.

Should You Take Last Month’s Rent at Lease Signing?

First Published May 26th, 2023 | Updated October 30th, 2025 Posted in News - 2 Comments

This is a close up of two people in dress shirts shaking hands in an office setting. The person on the left wears a blue dress shirt, the one on the right wears a white dress shirt. Their hands take up most of the image.

The law entitles landlords to collect the last month’s rent when a new tenancy begins, but should you? If you do, what rules must you follow?

Eviction Sealing Hearing Held May 9 at State House

First Published May 25th, 2023 | Updated December 5th, 2024 Posted in News - 2 Comments

A view from the State Housing hearing camera looks down on a packed hearing room with thin commercial carpet, wood table and four chairs for testimony. Two chairs are occupied, at left by Senator Edwards in a sleeveless dress and at right by Greg Vasil in a suit with bow tie. Behind them are four rows of benches full of people waiting to speak and a line of people standing at the back of the room.

Find out what happened at the State House hearing on eviction sealing held May 9, 2023.

Can Landlords Refuse Cash and Require Check or Electronic Rent Payments?

Posted on May 16th, 2023 Posted in News - 4 Comments

A black leather wallet is open against a pale blue background. Multiple hundred dollar bills are peeking over the edge of the section of the wallet designed to hold cash.

Massachusetts law says retail establishments cannot refuse to take cash, but can landlords require other methods of payment?

Statewide Hearing Tue May 9th: Eviction Sealing, Eminent Domain

First Published May 4th, 2023 | Updated May 9th, 2023 Posted in events, policy - 1 Comment

Join us Tues. May 9th at the State House to testify against eviction sealing and in favor of eminent domain reform.