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Summer Fire Safety for Multifamilies

First Published June 8th, 2018 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 1 Comment

Mulch fires, grills too close to buildings, and DIY s’mores campfires are risks landlords can help renters avoid.

Flat Roof Collapses in Heavy Rain

First Published July 6th, 2018 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in Architecture, News - 0 Comments

Flat roof maintenance includes checking and snaking drains.

Dorchester Landlords Settle Section 8 Case

First Published July 20th, 2018 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

Dorchester Landlords Settle Section 8 Case

Receiver Appointed for Dorchester Property after 7 Year Legal Battle

First Published July 23rd, 2018 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

Receiver Appointed for Dorchester Property after 7 Year Legal Battle

Letter from the Executive Director for August 2022: Session End

First Published July 28th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

Our Letter from the Executive Director for August 2022 recaps a very busy July: The 192nd legislative session closed, PayPal blocked free rent payments and we contributed to three news stories.

Deadly Fire Prompts City of Worcester to Propose Rental Property Registry and Inspection Ordinance

First Published July 25th, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 0 Comments

This image is a partial screenshot of the meeting minutes from the Worcester City Council meeting on June 7, 2022. The snippet reads: 9.15, Department of Inspectional Services, Administration, Christopher P. Spencer, Commissioner. A. Recommend adoption of two ordinances regarding joint programs of the Fire Department and Department of Inspectional Services with regard to a Rental Registry Program. In green, the meeting minutes added after the meeting read: Mayor Petty read the item and moved to take the item up with item #20f CC. Mayor Petty recognized Councilor Russell, who spoke concerning the item. Mayor Petty moved to refer the items to Economic Development Committee. Referred to Economic Development Committee.

If the ordinances pass, landlords must register their properties and have regular inspections, or face hefty fines

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.

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.

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.

HUD Orders Dallas Housing Authority to Pay $500,000 Housing Discrimination Settlement

First Published September 23rd, 2022 | Updated April 13th, 2023 Posted in News - 3 Comments

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development determined a former public housing tenant was entitled to damages after alleged civil rights violations.

Summer Fire Safety for Multifamilies

Flat Roof Collapses in Heavy Rain

Dorchester Landlords Settle Section 8 Case

Receiver Appointed for Dorchester Property after 7 Year Legal Battle

Letter from the Executive Director for August 2022: Session End

Deadly Fire Prompts City of Worcester to Propose Rental Property Registry and Inspection Ordinance

Letter from the Executive Director for September 2022: Hottest Yet

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

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

HUD Orders Dallas Housing Authority to Pay $500,000 Housing Discrimination Settlement

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