Better Communities. Better Policy. Better Lives.
The largest non-profit for owners and managers of Massachusetts residential real estate.
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A spate of discrimination lawsuits from Bellus Real Estate indicates landlord actions are under the microscope when screening tenants.
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Our Letter from the Executive Director for December 2021 discusses our annual elections, a possible public records lawsuit, and our dues increase.
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Members in good standing must vote in the 2021 election online at MassLandlords.net/governance. Nominations through Dec. 7. Vote Dec. 8 through 21.
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![The first of three pages in a letter from Attorney Peter Vickery on behalf of MassLandlords to Attorney General Maura Healey. The top of the letter bears the letterhead of Bobrowski and Vickery, LLC, and has contact information for both the law firm and the attorney general. It is titled “Petition to Amend 940 CMR 3.17. The letter reads as follows: Dear Attorney General Healey: On behalf of MassLandlords, Inc., and pursuant to G.L. c. 30A, Section 4, I respectfully petition you to amend 940 CMR 3.17 so as to delete from 3.17 (4) (k) the words “or...otherwise fail to comply with the provisions of M.G.L. c. 186, s. 15B.” By these words, 3.17 (4) (k) imposes treble damages and attorney’s fees for violations of the security-deposit law that the Legislature exempted from these remedies. The statute (G.L. 186 Section 15B) imposes treble damages for violating three specific paragraphs of subsection 6, namely paragraphs (a), (d), and (e): If the lessor or his agent fails to comply with clauses (a), (d), or (e) of subsection 6, the tenant shall be awarded damages in an amount equal to three times the amount of such security deposit or balance thereof to which the tenant is entitled plus interest at the rate of five per cent from the date when such payment became due, together with court costs and reasonable attorney’s fees. G.L. c. 186 section 15B (7). In providing for treble damages and attorney’s fees for these particular violations, the Legislature chose not to impose treble damages for violations of subsection 6(b) and (c), which impose forfeiture as the sole remedy against any landlord who: (b) fails to furnish to the tenant within thirty days after the termination of the occupancy the itemized list of damages, if any, in compliance with the provisions of this section; [or] (c) uses in any lease signed by the tenant any provision which conflicts with any provision of this section and attempts to enforce such provision or attempts to obtain from this tenant or prospective tenant a waiver of any provision of this section. The Legislature chose multiple damages as the remedy for violations of three paragraphs of subsection 6, and forfeiture as the remedy for violations of the other two paragraphs. Letter continues in next image.](https://masslandlords.net/app/uploads/Security-Deposit-Petition-Blurb-Image-1-lic-cc-by-SA-4-MassLandlords-232x300.png "MassLandlords to Attorney General: Amend Landlord-Tenant Security Deposit Regulations Verbiage")
A petition to Attorney General Maura Healey requests that language allowing treble damages for security deposits be removed.
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Applying fair housing practices to all renters regardless of their religious beliefs (or lack thereof) goes beyond tenant selection.
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In signing two new California laws, Gov. Gavin Newsom continues a sustained legislative effort to incentivize and facilitate denser housing.
Found Among the Papers of the Late Sandra Katz, a tale of triple damages from good faith errors with a Massachusetts security deposit.
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With so many automatic online options, collecting rent on time no longer needs to take up landlords’ time and attention.
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Don’t like kids in the building? Saying so and denying a tenancy to someone with children could land you in court.
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Both veterans and active-duty military members are protected under Massachusetts law.
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