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Why Weren’t My Membership Dues Grandfathered In?

Posted on September 16th, 2022 Posted in News - 2 Comments

We answer your frequently asked questions about our former program to grandfather rates for membership dues.

Massachusetts Signs CROWN Act Into Law – Discrimination Based on Protective Hairstyles Now Illegal

First Published September 12th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

This image is a cartoon drawing of a young Black woman wearing a purple and gold superhero outfit with golden yellow cape and boots. She holds a yellow semi-circle shield up in one hand, which is deflecting many comments in text bubbles that are flying at her. The bubbles read “Is that your real hair?”, “My hair would never do that”, “Isn’t that a lot of work?”, “How much did that cost?”, “Why don’t you get it straightened?” and “Your hair looks so soft. Can I touch it?” She smiles at her successful deflection of these questions, now unlawful under the CROWN Act.

The law prohibits employers and schools from banning protective hairstyles, but has discrimination implications for housing providers as well.

Letter from the Executive Director for September 2022: Hottest Yet

First Published August 26th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

Our Letter from the Executive Director for September 2022 recaps a hot August. Besides our work on climate change, we continued to oppose TOPA post-session and advanced initiatives in lead, evictions and rent control.

Is it Legal to Have Blocked Dates for Move-Outs in a Month-to-month Tenancy?

First Published August 24th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 1 Comment

This image is a photograph of a plowed residential street in the wintertime, with high snow banks on either side of the road and slush around the banks. Houses are covered in snow, and cars parked on the street are blocked in with plowed snow.

Landlords may not want tenants moving out in the winter, but can they restrict tenants at will from giving notice during certain months?

MassLandlords to Appeal Recent Dismissal of Court Petition for DHCD Data

First Published August 23rd, 2022 | Updated July 15th, 2024 Posted in News - 1 Comment

Despite the dismissal of a lawsuit seeking data from rejected rental assistance applications, MassLandlords will pursue further legal action.

Landlording by the Numbers September 2022

Posted on August 22nd, 2022 Posted in News - 0 Comments

State Cans Two Most Egregious Rent Control Bills; Sends To Study

First Published August 17th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

This image is a screenshot of the top part of the first page of each of the bills mentioned in this article. The visible part of the background page reads “Senate Docket No. 1677 Filed On 2/18/2021, Senate No. 889, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts.” The rest of the text is cut off. The partial page in the foreground reads “Senate Docket, No. 2348 Filed On 2/19/2021, Senate No. 886, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Presented by Adam Gomez. To the honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General Court assembled: The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill: An Act enabling local options for tenant protections.”

Senate bills S.886 and S.889 will not pass into law; rental assistance remains best path to fixing housing crisis.

Geothermal Pilot Project in Framingham Could Have Broad Impact on Rental Heating and Cooling

First Published August 11th, 2022 | Updated April 11th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

Clean and new looking geothermal heat pump with exposed sides showing copper refrigerant lines and no exhaust vent. CC BY-SA 4-0 Tzeferis Petros.

A geothermal project in the Concord Street area of Framingham will provide data for possible similar projects using the ground to heat and cool buildings.

State Legislature Makes Tenants Rights Sheet Permanent Requirement for Issuing Notice to Quit, Temporarily Extends Copies and Continuances

First Published August 10th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 2 Comments

This image is a screenshot of the upper half of the tenant rights attestation form that must accompany a notice to quit. On the upper right are the dates of finalization, which read “Final 12-30-20, as amended 02-16-21, 6-23-21, 6-25-21, 8-04-21 and 5-11-22.” After that, the form reads: “Attestation form to accompany any residential notice to quit. This notice to quit is not an eviction. You do not need to immediately leave your unit. You are entitled to a legal process in which you can fight the eviction. Only a court order can force you to leave your unit. Pursuant to section 1(a) of Chapter 257 of the Acts of 2020, as amended by Chapter 20 of the Acts of 2021, a notice to quit for nonpayment of rent given by a landlord to a residential tenant pursuant to section 11 or section 12 of chapter 186 of the General laws must be accompanied by this attestation form. A landlord’s obligation to provide her/his tenant(s) with this attestation form begins on the effective date of the law, December 31, 2020, and lasts until March 31, 2023. Instructions for completing this attestation form can be found here – here there is a link to the attestation form and submission information, as well as spaces to fill out the names of the landlords and tenants, and the address where the tenant lives. The form goes on to say “By signing below, Landlord is swearing that all of the following statements are true and correct

A pandemic requirement to notify tenants of their rights when served a notice to quit is now part of the law. Copies of notices and continuances pending rental assistance continue through March 31, 2023.

How to Avoid a Retaliation Complaint from Your Tenants

First Published August 9th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 3 Comments

This image is a cartoon drawing of a group of about 12 people standing on the street outside an apartment building. Two are holding a large banner that reads “Main Street Tenants Union.” Other people are holding smaller signs that read “Free Cable,” “Lower Rent,” “Vote for Me,” “Better Lease Terms,” “Yes to Pets,” “I Want to Open a Home Laundry Service” and “I’m Just Here for the Free Pizza.”

Landlords must be cautious when raising rent, terminating a tenancy or making other changes to rental agreements.