Blog

Housing Bond Bill Signed by Governor Includes Single-Family ADUs by Right

Posted on September 17th, 2024 Posted in News - 0 Comments

A two-column explainer image titled “Municipal ADU Restrictions for single-family land” with a small outline of a large house next to a smaller house at the top. The left column reads: Cities and Towns May: Have size restrictions. Have short-term rental restrictions. Require site plan reviews. Require dimensional setbacks. Have bulk and height regulations. Require only 1 parking space for ADUs more than .5 miles from a commuter station. Have other “reasonable restrictions.” The right column reads: Cities and Towns May Not: Impose special permit requirements for the first ADU on a property. Require any discretionary zoning approval for an ADU. Require a parking space for ADUs closer than .5 miles to a commuter station. Prohibit rentals of ADUs (except for short-term rentals). Impose owner-occupancy restrictions. Prohibit or “unreasonably restrict” ADUs. As a footnote, it reads: More than one ADU requires a special permit.

Gov. Healey’s Affordable Homes Act allows statewide construction of accessory dwelling units right on single-family plots of land.

2024 Changes to Security Deposit Law, Explained

First Published September 11th, 2024 | Updated September 16th, 2024

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.”

SECTION 50. Section 15B of chapter 186 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2022 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the figure “(2)”, in line 25, the following words:- provided, however, that the executive office of housing and livable communities may promulgate regulations to authorize a…

Outcomes for January 2023

Posted on September 12th, 2024

Massachusetts Eviction Data and Housing Court Statistics: Outcomes for January 2023 filings

Filings Month Ending 2024 August 31

Posted on September 12th, 2024

Massachusetts Eviction Data and Housing Court Statistics: Filings Month Ending 2024 August 31

A Monthly Fee Instead of a Security Deposit? Bond Bill Makes Rare Change to MGL 186 15B

Posted on September 11th, 2024 Posted in News - 0 Comments

A cartoon image of a man and woman standing side by side against a blue background. The man holds an oversized paper currency bill; the woman holds an oversized gold-colored coin.

Bond bill provision allows EOHLC to make regulations that would give renters the option of paying a fee instead of an up-front security deposit.

What if Landlords Could Get Paid for Weeding? Your Ideas Wanted

Posted on September 5th, 2024 Posted in News - 0 Comments

closeup photo of oriental bittersweet, a green-leafed vine wrapped several times around a tree trunk.

Invasive, non-native plants on your properties are costing millions of dollars every year, and may indirectly prevent your renters from paying the rent. How can landlords help?