Blog - Archived - Page 26 of 113

Southbridge Mon Mar 06: Set up Your Investment Property to Protect Yourself and Maximize Investments

Posted on February 24th, 2023 Posted in events - 0 Comments

SWCLA speaker for the March 6th meeting will be Dennis Antonopoulos, Financial Advisor, Edward Jones, since 2014. His office is located in Auburn at 5 Albert Street. You can reach him at 508 832 5385 or at dennis.antonopoulos@edwardjones.com Dennis specializes in working with individuals and small companies. He has been…

Statewide Virtual Meeting Thu Mar 9th: How to Screen Tenants Using an Applicant Qualifier

First Published February 24th, 2023 | Updated April 4th, 2024 Posted in events - 2 Comments

This presentation will review 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…

Why Was Cambridge’s Rent Control Racist? Why Would Boston’s Be the Same?

First Published February 23rd, 2023 | Updated April 20th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

On Availability Discrimination under Rent Control. Heikki A. Loikkanen. Academy of Finland, Helsinki, Finland. Scand. J. Economics 87 (3) 500-520, 1985. Statistical discrimination and search theory approaches are used to consider the behavior of a landlord with a vacant rental unit. Often, and especially under rent control, rents cannot be differentiated by tenant type...

The following has been adapted from written testimony provided to the City of Boston Hearing for Docket #0408 on rent control Feb. 22, 2023.

An Open Letter to Boston City Council about Rent Control and G.L. Chapter 40P

Posted on February 20th, 2023 Posted in News - 2 Comments

Boston City Hall looms large in a black and white photo. The words Rent Control run along its upper roof line.

This letter opposed to Mayor Wu’s rent control was sent to Boston City Council in early February. A similar letter was sent to the legislature.

Can a Landlord Put Professional Cleaning Fees in a Lease?

First Published February 6th, 2023 | Updated October 31st, 2025 Posted in News - 11 Comments

This photograph shows an empty room with a beige carpet and white walls and ceiling. One wall has a window with blinds that are partially open, the wall opposite it appears to have a mirrored closet door.

Security deposit law says you cannot deduct from the security deposit for reasonable wear and tear, but can you charge your tenants for cleaning after they move out?

How Do Heat Pumps Work and What Makes Them So Great?

First Published February 2nd, 2023 | Updated July 16th, 2024 Posted in News - 3 Comments

A Mitsubishi electric heat pump unit attached to the exterior of a green building.

As heat pumps move increasingly into daily conversation, we thought this is a good time for an overview of what they do and how they work.

Letter from the Executive Director for February 2023: Sponsors Needed for Deleading Credit

First Published February 1st, 2023 | Updated April 14th, 2023 Posted in News - 1 Comment

Our Letter from the Executive Director for February 2023 looks back at January’s flurry of bill filing, Boston rent control and more.

Federal Lead and Healthy Homes Program Provides Funding for Deleading Rental Properties

First Published January 26th, 2023 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 4 Comments

This is a close-up photograph of gray lead paint peeling off a wall in large chunks, exposing the brown surface underneath.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development will reimburse thousands for lead paint remediation through cities making use of their grant-funded Healthy Homes Program.

London vs. Boston Rentals: How Residential Tech Differs U.K.-U.S.

First Published January 25th, 2023 | Updated April 10th, 2023 Posted in News - 3 Comments

The vent feels cheap and leaky. When wind blows past it, the fins spin fast and make a gentle whir.

How does a Boston rental compare to a London flat? What residential technology is different in the U.K. vs the U.S. and is it better or worse?

Should You Carry Over or Return a Security Deposit With a Lease Renewal?

First Published January 23rd, 2023 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 4 Comments

This is a composite image of part of the MassLandlords security deposit receipt form, filled out for the fictional Rita Renter to Leslie Landlord. On top of the form, obscuring most of it, is a generic green check written out to Leslie Landlord for $1800. The memo line reads “new security deposit.”

If your tenant is renewing their lease, when can you leave the existing security deposit in place, and when should you return it and take a new one?